The foreign ministers of Finland and Sweden commented on the tripartite negotiations with Turkey. Turkey has not yet taken a position on when the membership applications can be ratified.
BUCHAREST Foreign minister Pekka Haaviston (green), the discussions between Finland, Sweden and Turkey took place in a constructive, matter-of-fact spirit.
The countries’ foreign ministers discussed yesterday in connection with the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Bucharest.
According to Haavisto, Finland has succeeded in fulfilling the commitments agreed with Turkey.
– Confirmation was received that the conditions for Finland have also been fulfilled in many ways, which was previously agreed upon.
According to Haavisto, Turkey did not have an exact time to announce when Finland’s and Sweden’s membership applications could be ratified.
– It was noted that the discussions will continue. There will be connections between Finland and Turkey in the near future, both at the official level and certainly at the political level.
Sweden’s Billström: Progress has been made
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström progress has been made in the negotiations with Turkey.
– All three parties stated after the meeting that progress has been made regarding the memorandum of understanding agreed in Madrid.
According to Billström, the discussions between Sweden and Turkey will continue in the near future.
– I will travel to Ankara to talk with my Turkish colleague.
Hungary’s approval is also delayed
Along with Turkey, the ratification of NATO membership applications is also expected from Hungary. Prime minister Viktor Orbán according to which the Hungarian parliament could accept Finland and Sweden as members at the beginning of next year.
Finland, Sweden and Hungary will discuss the situation today on the second day of the meeting of foreign ministers.
– We have been in constant contact with Hungary. The Parliament’s hearing schedule has been moved a few times. Today we will definitely hear where Hungary is going.
Haavisto says that he expressed this to his colleague to Péter Szijjártó his disappointment that Hungary’s schedules have moved.
In Finland, support from NATO countries
According to Haavisto, the mood among all key NATO actors is that it is time for Finland and Sweden to become NATO members.
However, the possibility to influence the parliaments of the member countries is limited.
– We cannot influence Turkey’s political decision-making in Finland and Sweden that much, but we can influence what we do ourselves, Haavisto says.
According to Haavisto, patience is required in membership-related negotiations.
– This requires the nerves of a cow.