Winston Peters says Turkish president's Christchurch terror attack narrative has 'utterly changed'

March 25, 2019

The Foreign Minister visited Turkey last week but didn't confront President Erdogan about the video he has been showing.

Winston Peters says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has "utterly changed" his controversial narrative about the Christchruch mosques shooting despite him still showing footage of the terror attack at political rallies.

Erdogan caused outrage among many in Australia and New Zealand after saying that anyone who comes to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, "like their grandfathers were" during the World War I Gallipoli campaign.

He has also drawn condemnation for airing footage of the Christchurch terror attack that was livestreamed by the shooter.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters flew to Turkey last week to attend an emergency conference of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The Deputy Prime Minister didn't bring up the Turkish president's controversial comments about Anzacs, or the fact Turkey's leader is showing the gunman's footage at political rallies.

He was expected to confront President Erdogan over his comments and use of attack footage, but at a post-Cabinet address today he said the safety of Kiwis in Turkey was his main priority on the trip.

"We had already spoken to Turkish embassy before we left about concerns around the video and I was most concerned with New Zealanders safety travelling in Turkey in the future with Anzac Day coming up.

"In that sense I am delighted with the response and the assurance he [Erdogan] gave me personally," Mr Peters said.

When asked if he was disappointed that President Erdogan once again showed footage of the Christchurch terror attack shortly after their meeting, Mr Peters said the narrative has "utterly changed".

"The facts are the showing after that meeting was an abbreviated version where his narrative had utterly changed.

"Before we left for Turkey his narrative had been condemnatory of New Zealand and Australia all in together. That all changed dramatically with his statements to the Washington Post and his speech made to the OIC. It could not have been a bigger change."

Mr Peters also denied that he had nodded off during the OIC meeting after footage emerged of him with his eyes closed while President Erdogan spoke.

"I thought it was a very, very serious meeting," Mr Peters said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also said at the post-Cabinet address that the Government maintains the same view on the Christchurch terror attack footage that it should not be shared and "is very harmful".

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