New Zealand’s foreign minister arrived in Turkey early Friday for what he called “substantial” talks after comments made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan over the killing of 50 people at mosques in Christchurch a week ago sparked a diplomatic spat between the nations, Reuters reports.
“We are looking forward to commemorating and grieving with the Turkish people as to the event, and to some substantial talks when we are here,” Winston Peters told reporters at the airport in Istanbul.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with one murder following the attack in Christchurch, New Zealand and is likely to face more charges.
Erdogan, who is seeking to drum up support for his Islamist-rooted AK Party in March 31 local elections, said on Tuesday that Turkey would make the suspected attacker pay if New Zealand did not.