(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ANKARA, May 25 (KUNA) -- Turkey made it clear to Sweden and Finland during a meeting in the capital Ankara on Wednesday that their NATO bid cannot progress unless Ankara's security concerns are met through concrete steps and a certain timeframe.
Turkey's Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, told a news conference following the closed-door consultative meeting that lasted nearly five hours, that PKK, YPG, and PYD are all same terror groups.
The spokesman added Turkey conveyed its expectations on this matter to the delegations from Sweden and Finland during the meeting.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU - has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
The YPG/PYD is PKK's Syrian offshoot.
'In the reports prepared on the PYD/YPG, we explained that the organization committed war crimes,' Kalin said.
'Therefore, we expressed that the reports should not be hidden in order to acquit the PYD/YPG,' Kalin added.
'We stated that if Turkey's security concerns are not met with concrete steps, the process will not progress.
The delegations received our message. They will discuss our demands with their leaders and they will respond to us,' Kalin said.
Turkey expects the 'correct implementation' of the 1999 NATO summit principles and procedures related to the alliance membership process, Kalin added.
He also underlined that Ankara has been making extradition requests to Sweden and Finland for the last 10 years. (end)
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