Christchurch massacre: Gallipoli safe for tourists, says Erdogan

Australia has received assurances from Turkish officials that attendees of Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be welcome.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Australia has received assurances from Turkish officials that attendees of Anzac Day services at Gallipoli next month will be welcome, as tensions ease following a diplomatic brawl over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s threat to send anti-Islamic Australian tourists home in coffins.

Mr Erdogan’s spokesman ­yesterday said the remarks, made after an Australian-born man shot dead 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch, had been taken out of ­context.

Government sources said the current level of advice to Australians visiting Turkey — to exercise a “high degree of caution” — was unlikely to change, but there could be an update in language, possibly noting recent events.

Scott Morrison said the govern­ment would make an announce­ment once a review of the advice level was completed, expected to occur in a matter of days.

Australia’s ambassador to Turkey­, Marc Innes-Brown, met senior officials from Mr Erdogan’s office on Wednesday local time and was told the country would alway­s welcome Australians and New Zealanders for Anzac Day.

That assurance prompted the Prime Minister to declare that “progress has been made”, a day after he ordered the Turkish ambassad­or to urgent talks in Canberra and demanded an apology for Mr Erdogan’s inflam­matory rhetoric in the wake of the New Zealand terrorist attack.

Mr Morrison had also warned that all diplomatic options were on the table if action was not taken.

“Overnight we’ve already seen a moderation of the President’s views expressed,” he said yesterday. “It’s my intention here to break any cycle of recklessness and work through the issues practically, to register in the strongest and clearest of terms the offence that was taken, I believe rightly, by those comments yesterday.

“This is a matter I’m confident we’ll be able to resolve and be able to work through in the best interests of the wonderful relationship we’ve had with Turkey over a long period of time.”

Days out from local Turkey elections, Mr Erdogan said he had been responding only to the alleged­ Christchurch terrorist and his manifesto.

“Turks have always been the most welcoming & gracious hosts to their Anzac visitors,” his spokesman, Fahrettin Altun, tweeted.

“The terrorist’s manifesto not only targeted Erdogan himself but also the Turkish people and the Turkish state. As he was giving the speech at the Canakkale (Gallipoli) commemoration, he framed his remarks in a historical context of attacks against Turkey, past and present.”

Bill Shorten acknowledged the more temperate language from the President’s office and said relations appeared to be improving.

“There is an election in Turkey in 10 days’ time — that doesn’t excuse­ the intemperate language,” the Opposition Leader said.