Controversial PKK tent in Brussels burnt

BRUSSELS – Doğan New Agency

AA photo

The tent erected by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Brussels, for which the Turkish Ministry had summoned Belgium’s ambassador to Ankara to the ministry to protest, has been burnt.

A fire broke out for an unknown reason at the PKK tent, which was erected behind the European Council building in Brussels, late March 20.

The fire burnt a small part of the tent, which was under police surveillance, and was put out soon after.
Police had evacuated the tent a few hours prior to the fire.

The fire took place hours after Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Belgian Ambassador to Turkey Marc Trenteseau to the ministry to protest the PKK’s erecting of the tent in the city center.

Turkey delivered an official protest note to Belgium for allowing the set up the tent, urging Belgian authorities to swiftly remove it and to prevent the organization’s activities on its soil.

In the meantime, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a phone conversation with his Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders on March 20, expressing Turkey’s sensitivities on the issue.