NVJ: action by Minister Blok towards Turkey

amsterdam - After the expulsion of FD correspondent Ans Boersma, the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) thinks that minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs should really take action towards Turkey.

'This is a new sad low and indicates how grim the situation for journalists is,' says NVJ secretary Thomas Bruning. 'There are also dozens of Turkish journalists in the country or have been deported. This really is no longer possible. The Netherlands and Europe must really do something about this now and must ensure that journalists can do their job. We do a lot of trade with a country that deals with journalists in this way. Minister Blok must make it clear that this is no longer possible and, if need be, the Netherlands must break ties with Turkey. '