https://sputnikglobe.com/20220605/finland--sweden-should-stop-wasting-natos-time-over-bid-turkish-politician-tells-swedish-media-1096025759.html
Finland, Sweden Should Stop ‘Wasting NATO's Time’ Over Bid, Turkish Politician Tells Swedish Media
Finland, Sweden Should Stop ‘Wasting NATO's Time’ Over Bid, Turkish Politician Tells Swedish Media
Sputnik International
Ever since Sweden and Finland submitted applications to join NATO on 18 May, alliance-member Turkey has resisted the bid, issuing a list of demands that it... 05.06.2022, Sputnik International
2022-06-05T10:53+0000
2022-06-05T10:53+0000
2022-11-18T09:20+0000
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Turkey's demands regarding Finland and Sweden joining NATO remain unchanged and negotiations on the issue are pointless, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter in an email interview.On 18 May, Stockholm and Helsinki submitted their NATO membership applications to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, arguing that the move had been prompted by a dramatic shift in the security situation in Europe triggered by the Ukrainian crisis.However, a membership bid must be unanimously approved and Turkey - a member of the bloc – has objected. Ankara refused to agree to the two countries’ bid because of their open support for the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and Kurdish YPG militia, which are deemed terrorist organisations by Ankara.Altun, head of media and communications for the Turkish president, highlighted Turkey's contributions and commitment to the security of its allies. He underscored in his interview for the Swedish outlet that his country expects more from Finland and Sweden than just words.Altun went on to claim that NATO membership is not a right, but a privilege, and that what happens next “depends on the Swedish government”.Turkey's government had previously laid out specific demands for Stockholm and Helsinki to meet before it would back down from its opposition to their NATO membership bid.Thus, Ankara urged the countries to change their laws to ensure a halt to their support for the PKK and other groups, prohibit them from organising any events on their territory, extradite those sought by Turkey on terrorism charges, support Ankara's military and counter-terrorism operations, and lift all arms exports restrictions.When questioned on the results of negotiations with the Swedish and Finnish delegations in Ankara last week, Altun said there was no difference between “what we say to them and what we say in public".Ibrahim Kalin, another adviser to Turkey’s president Erdogan, told Turkish state media previously that he does not consider the NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June to be a "deadline" for the demands to be met.NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, Who met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Washington DC on Friday and conferred over the telephone with President Erdogan, has indicated that he is working to resolve the stalemate.In a tweet, Stoltenberg said that he and Marin discussed the need to consider Turkey's concerns. He also described his conversation with Erdogan as "constructive”.Delegates from Finland, Sweden and Turkey are scheduled to meet in Brussels next week to discuss the situation.The stalemate over the two countries' NATO bid come against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has emphasised that its goal is to demilitarise and de-Nazify the neighbouring country. The Kremlin has also repeatedly noted that further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will not bring greater security to Europe.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20220602/us--uk-reportedly-pressuring-sweden-finland-to-give-in-to-turkeys-demands-over-nato-bid-1095943625.html
https://sputnikglobe.com/20220603/polish-deputy-foreign-minister-doubts-finland-sweden-will-be-admitted-to-nato-in-june-1095964236.html
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Finland, Sweden Should Stop ‘Wasting NATO's Time’ Over Bid, Turkish Politician Tells Swedish Media
10:53 GMT 05.06.2022 (Updated: 09:20 GMT 18.11.2022) Ever since Sweden and Finland submitted applications to join NATO on 18 May, alliance-member Turkey has resisted the bid, issuing a list of demands that it says must be met before the northern countries can begin accession talks.
Turkey's demands regarding Finland and Sweden joining NATO remain unchanged and negotiations on the issue are pointless, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has
told Swedish newspaper
Dagens Nyheter in an email interview.
"It is not right that Finland and Sweden are wasting NATO's time at this critical moment," Fahrettin Altun was cited as writing.
On 18 May, Stockholm and Helsinki submitted their NATO membership applications to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, arguing that the move had been prompted by a dramatic shift in the security situation in Europe triggered by the Ukrainian crisis.
However, a
membership bid must be unanimously approved and Turkey - a member of the bloc – has objected. Ankara refused to agree to the two countries’ bid because of their open support for the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and Kurdish YPG militia, which are deemed terrorist organisations by Ankara.
Altun, head of media and communications for the Turkish president,
highlighted Turkey's contributions and commitment to the security of its allies. He underscored in his interview for the Swedish outlet that his country expects more from Finland and Sweden than just words.
“Before this application, they may have thought, 'Turkey will be convinced anyway' or 'Turkey will not object'. However, … Turkey will protect its interests at all costs,” he emphasised.
Altun went on to claim that NATO membership is not a right, but a privilege, and that what happens next “depends on the Swedish government”.
Turkey's government had previously laid out specific demands for Stockholm and Helsinki to meet before it would back down from its opposition to their NATO membership bid.
Thus, Ankara urged the countries to change their laws to ensure a halt to their support for the PKK and other groups, prohibit them from organising any events on their territory, extradite those sought by Turkey on terrorism charges, support Ankara's military and counter-terrorism operations, and lift all arms exports restrictions.
"Sweden needs to make a concrete and permanent policy change on terrorism. Extradition of terrorists to Turkey and preventing terrorist organisations from operating on Swedish soil are indispensable," argued Altun.
When questioned on the results of negotiations with the Swedish and Finnish delegations in Ankara last week, Altun said there was no difference between “what we say to them and what we say in public".
Ibrahim Kalin, another adviser to Turkey’s president Erdogan, told Turkish state media previously that he does not consider the
NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June to be a "deadline" for the demands to be met.
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg, Who met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Washington DC on Friday and conferred over the telephone with President Erdogan, has indicated that he is working to resolve the stalemate.
In a tweet, Stoltenberg said that he and Marin discussed the need to consider Turkey's concerns. He also described his conversation with Erdogan as "constructive”.
Delegates from Finland, Sweden and Turkey are scheduled to meet in Brussels next week to discuss the situation.
The stalemate over the two countries' NATO bid come against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing special
military operation in Ukraine. Moscow has emphasised that its goal is to demilitarise and de-Nazify the neighbouring country. The Kremlin has also repeatedly noted that further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will not bring greater security to Europe.
