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Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson claimed that Turkey made impossible NATO demands on Sweden.
Now Turkey is fighting back – and believes that all demands are within the framework of the agreement.
– It is now Sweden’s task to fulfill its commitments, says Ahmet Berat Conkar, vice chairman of Turkey’s NATO delegation.
The tone has changed from the Swedish side regarding the ongoing Nator negotiations.
– They want things that we can’t and want to give them. Now the decision lies with Turkey, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Sunday, in an unexpected turn about Turkey’s demands on Sweden to approve a Swedish NATO application.
Now Turkey responds to Kristersson’s play.
– Turkey has demanded things that are in line with the multilateral agreement with Sweden and Finland. It is now Sweden’s and Finland’s task to fulfill their commitments, writes Ahmet Berat Conkar, top name in President Recap Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, AKP.
Advisor to the President
Ahmet Berat Conkar has been the president’s adviser on both economic and foreign policy issues, and between 2017 and 2021 he was chairman of Turkey’s NATO delegation, where he has since been vice chairman in 2021.
He states in a written reply to Aftonbladet that Turkey has not yet decided whether Sweden’s application will be approved or not.
– In order for the parliament to approve Sweden’s membership, all conditions agreed between our governments must be implemented. We cannot negotiate about our national security, which is threatened by the terrorist organizations Fetö and PKK/YPG, writes Ahmet Berat Conkar.
Large number of extraditions
All NATO countries except Turkey and Hungary have already ratified Sweden’s and Finland’s application, but to become full NATO members a parliamentary decision is required in each of the member countries.
A stumbling block between Sweden and Turkey has been the Swedish attitude towards the Kurdish workers’ party PKK. Turkey has requested the extradition of a large number of people it believes in Turkey have ties to the PKK, but also people linked to the Gülen movement, known in Turkey as “Fetö”.
“All activities should be prevented”
A dividing line is also the view of the Kurdish military branch YPG, which together with NATO forces fought and defeated the Islamic State. In Turkey, the YPG is classified as a terrorist organization, but the EU does not agree. However, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström has distanced himself from the YPG, and departed from the previous government’s line.
– All activities carried out by the PKK/YPG and Fetö in Sweden should be prevented. It will also set a good example for other NATO members in our joint fight against terrorism. Turkey monitors very carefully how Sweden and Finland act as NATO membership requires sincere solidarity in guaranteeing each other’s security, writes Ahmet Berat Conkar.
Aftonbladet has asked Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for a comment on the Turkish response.
Facts
The agreement with Turkey
• In the summer of 2022, Sweden and Finland concluded an agreement (memorandum) with Turkey with a series of points that must be fulfilled in order for Turkey to give the green light to the countries’ NATO applications.
• The agreement was signed on June 28 in Madrid. At the same time, Turkey released its veto against Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO membership.
• As prospective NATO countries, Sweden and Finland undertake to support Turkey in the face of threats to the country’s national security.
• Sweden and Finland must not give support to the Kurdish YPG/PYD or the Gülen movement, and must also unequivocally condemn all terrorist organizations that carry out attacks against Turkey.
• Sweden and Finland must also process ongoing and unresolved extradition requests for persons whom Turkey classifies as terrorist suspects “quickly and carefully”.
• The countries also state in the agreement that there shall be no arms embargo between them. (TT)
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