Turkey: Talks with Sweden and Finland on NATO Membership Fail

“White smoke” came out of the conversations Turkey, Sweden and Φινλανδίας for the integration of the last two in NATOas Ankara considers that it has not received the answers it needs for its concerns.

In particular, speaking to reporters in Brussels after the discussions in NATO on the issue, Ibrahim Kalina spokesman for the Turkish president, stressed that Ankara expects Sweden, in particular, to take immediate action on the actions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)) and that any progress in the Nordic countries’ applications “now depends on the direction and speed with which those countries take action”.

For his part, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Jens Stoltenberg In a statement, he described as “constructive” the current talks between Turkey, Sweden and Finland to find a solution to the problems posed by Ankara for the accession of the two countries.

Ιμπραΐμ ΚαλίνΙμπραΐμ ΚαλίνIbrahim Kalin

“Turkey has legitimate security concerns about terrorism that we need to address. “Therefore, we will continue our discussions (…) and I look forward to finding a solution as soon as possible,” Stoltenberg said.

The talks took place in Brussels, with Kalin stressing that talks between the three Nordic countries on NATO membership would continue, but “next week’s Alliance summit in Madrid is not a deadline.” .

The case that Turkey accepts the applications of Sweden – Finland

According to the Athens News Agency, diplomatic imgs estimate that even if Turkey lifts its reservations on the accession of Sweden and Finland tomorrow, there is no time within a week to complete all the necessary procedures for the accession process to proceed. two countries and be able to participate in the NATO Summit with the status of “observer” countries. The compromise, however, would be a “very positive development” if it finally happened before Madrid, the same imgs commented.

According to the same imgs, in the event that Ankara decides to stop the blackmailthe three countries will sign a joint statement, which will respond to Turkish concerns about terrorism, but also to its request for the lifting of the arms embargo by Sweden. Erdogan could “sell” this statement inside, saying that he came out of the negotiation with a win.

Σημαία Σουηδίας και ΝΑΤΟΣημαία Σουηδίας και ΝΑΤΟSweden and NATO flag

However, Ankara still has demands from Helsinki and especially Stockholm to lift its security concerns about terrorism – which rumors say include even the resignation of Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Lind – impossible to be satisfied, diplomatic imgs estimate. At the same time, as Turkey has more “open issues” with Sweden, while with Finland things seem easier, no one wants only Finland to join, because that would leave it exposed to the Russian threat.

“I welcome the constructive meeting”

“I welcome the constructive meeting that took place today on the historic applications of Finland and Sweden to join NATO,” said Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

He added that “the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO would make the Alliance stronger and the whole Euro-Atlantic area safer. Turkey has legitimate security concerns about terrorism that we have to deal with. So we will continue our talks on Finland and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership and I look forward to finding a way forward as soon as possible».

It is recalled that on June 12the Secretary General of NATO, had stated that “no other NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey“And so her concerns are” necessary to be taken seriously “.

Γενς ΣτόλτενμπεργκΓενς ΣτόλτενμπεργκJens Stoltenberg

Source: News Beast

You may also like