Turkey says "ready" to discuss ties with Netherlands

ANKARA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Ankara will hold talks with Amsterdam if it takes concrete steps towards normalization of ties, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said late Monday.

"If the Netherlands shows willingness towards taking concrete steps for normalization, Turkey is ready to discuss the relations between the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement.

Earlier on Monday, the Dutch government announced to officially withdrew its ambassador to Turkey after the two countries failed on normalization talks recently.

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdag confirmed on Monday that diplomatic relations of the two countries remain at charge d' affaires level.

Ties between the Netherlands and Turkey deteriorated last year after Dutch authorities had banned a Turkish minister from attending a rally ahead of a referendum which granted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's power.

Dutch ambassador in Ankara has not had access to Turkey since March 2017 when diplomatic tension between the two countries rose. In reciprocity, Turkish ambassador to The Hague is absent since early 2017. Enditem