(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Trend
Sweden has confirmed its“readiness” and is taking important
steps to meet Turkiye's demands for approving Stockholm's NATO
membership application, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
said, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah .
After decades of military nonalignment, situation in Ukraine
pushed Sweden and Finland to apply to join the Western defense
alliance in May. But they have faced resistance from Turkiye, which
has vetoed their entry into the alliance, citing their support to
terrorist groups, including the PKK and its Syrian wing, the
YPG.
Addressing a press conference alongside Swedish Prime Minister
Magdalena Andersson, Stoltenberg said he was“glad” that the
Swedish government has confirmed its“readiness to address
Turkiye's concerns as part of assuming the obligations of future
NATO membership.”
He suggested there has been progress in the spat, stressing that
NATO was working“hard and actively” together with Stockholm and
Ankara to resolve Turkey's concerns“as soon as possible.”
Stoltenberg said Sweden was showing compromise on two
points.
“I welcome that Sweden has already started to change its
counter-terrorism legislation and that Sweden will ensure that the
legal framework for arms export will reflect the future status as a
NATO member with new commitments to allies,” he said during a press
conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
“These are two important steps to address concerns that Turkey
has raised.”
While the two Nordic countries have said talks would continue to
resolve the dispute, Ankara said it had not received any responses
to its demands, including stopping support for groups Turkiye
considers terrorists, lifting arms embargoes on Ankara and
extraditing suspects it seeks.
Any bid to join NATO requires backing from each of its 30
members. Turkiye, which has been a NATO ally for over 70 years, has
said it will not change its view unless the Nordic countries take
“concrete steps” about its concerns.
For her part, Andersson said Sweden was taking Turkish concerns
“very seriously, not least the security concerns when it comes to
the fight against terrorism.”
She said Sweden had changed its terrorism laws in the last
couple of years and was in the process of further tightening.
“From July 1, we will also have even stronger legislation when
it comes to the fight against terrorism. So here there are no
questions about how strongly Sweden sees (on) terrorism and that we
are willing to contribute to the fight against terrorism,”
Andersson said.
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