No Dutch sanctions against Turkey

the hague - The Netherlands is not going to announce sanctions against Turkey on its own as a punishment for the Turkish invasion of the Syrian Afrin region. Such a one-man action would be counterproductive, says Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs.

A Dutch 'walk alone' only works in favor of Turkey, according to Blok. Turkey can then very triumphantly say that no one follows the Dutch call, and so explain it as support. 'If other countries do not want to follow us on conviction, the much sharper instrument of sanctions will certainly not be followed,' he says.

The minister responded to a call from SP Member of Parliament Sadet Karabulut. She points out that the Turks have driven the Kurds into Afrin. The Kurds are also an ally of the West in the fight against the radical Islamic IS. According to her, the Kurds have been betrayed and sacrificed.