Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has canceled his scheduled visit to Argentina that was due on May 30-31 as part of his South America tour. Ankara said on Saturday the cancellation came after the Buenos Aires Autonomous Administration halted plans for a ceremony opening a monument to Turkish republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. News of the ceremony brought outcry from the Armenian community, prompting officials to not go through with plans that included Erdogan’s participation.

“Upon the developments, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had talks with his Argentinean counterpart in the Alliance of Civilizations Forum and asked Argentinean government to stick by their pledge on the opening of the monument,” reported Turkish television TRT (www.trtenglish.com). “The Argentinean President called Erdogan and said they justified Turkey’s reaction but could not exceed authority of the Autonomous administration in accordance with the Argentinean constitution.”

Premier Erdogan still reportedly canceled his visit to Argentina, proceeding to Chile from Brazil, noting that he did not find the attitude acceptable whatever the reason was.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry further said, as reported by Turkish media, that “Argentinean authorities are expected to take required steps to compensate the situation, which was shadowed by a wrong decision by anti-Turkey circles-led Buenos Aires Autonomous Administration, in the shortest time.”