A group of supporters of the terrorist organization YPG/PKK gathered in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, and demanded a step back, claiming that Sweden had made concessions to Turkey in NATO negotiations. Supporters of the terrorist organization gathered in Norra Bantorget Square in Stockholm and marched in front of the Swedish Parliament.
They wanted the concessions to be withdrawn
The supporters of the organization, who opened the pieces of cloth symbolizing the terrorist organization YPG/PKK, demanded that Sweden not join NATO and withdraw the concessions it made to Turkey.
Supporters of terrorism, who chanted “We are all PKK members”, also chanted slogans against Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
WHAT HAPPENED?
After the four-way meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Finnish President Niinistö, Swedish Prime Minister Andersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a “Triple Memorandum” was signed between Turkey, Finland and Sweden.
It was stated in the memorandum that Turkey, Finland and Sweden promised that they would take the next concrete steps after the talks:
“They will establish a structured intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation mechanism at all levels, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to enhance consensus-based cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and other common challenges. Finland and Sweden will continue to fight terrorism in line with the provisions of the relevant NATO documents and policies. Finland and Sweden, in line with the European Extradition Convention, taking into account the information, evidence and intelligence provided by Turkey, to demand deportation or extradition of Turkey suspects of terrorism. They will act immediately and in all its dimensions and make the necessary bilateral contractual arrangements with Turkey to enhance extradition and security cooperation.
ARTICLES IN THE JOINT STATEMENT
The representatives of Turkey, Finland and Sweden, who came together under the facilitation of the NATO Secretary General, agreed on the following issues.
NATO is an Alliance based on common values, with the principles of common defense and the indivisibility of security. Turkey, Finland and Sweden express their commitment to the principles and values set out in the Washington Treaty.
One of the most fundamental elements of the alliance is full solidarity and cooperation in combating all forms and manifestations of terrorism, which poses a direct threat to the national security of the member states as well as to international peace and stability.
As future NATO Allies, Finland and Sweden give full support to Turkey against all threats to its national security. In this framework, Finland and Sweden will not support the PYD/YPG and the organization defined as FETO in Turkey. Turkey also gives full support to Finland and Sweden against all threats to their national security. Finland and Sweden strongly reject and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Finland and Sweden openly and unequivocally condemn the attacks carried out by all terrorist organizations against Turkey and express their deepest feelings of solidarity with Turkey and the families of the victims.
Finland and Sweden confirm that the PKK is a banned terrorist organization. Finland and Sweden undertake to prevent the activities of the PKK and all other terrorist organizations, their extensions, and the activities of persons involved in or affiliated with affiliated organizations and front organizations. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have decided to increase their cooperation in order to prevent the activities of these terrorist organizations. Finland and Sweden reject the ambitions of these terrorist organizations.
In addition, Finland added new activities to the scope of punishable terrorist offenses with a series of amendments to the Penal Code, which entered into force on 1 January 2022. With these latest amendments, which entered into force on January 1, 2022, the scope of the crime of participating in the activities of terrorist groups has been expanded. At the same time, acts of incitement to terrorism in the public sphere were punished as a separate offense. Sweden confirms that a new and more effective Terrorist Offenses Law will come into force from 1 July and that the government will further tighten up its anti-terrorism legislation.
Turkey, Finland and Sweden confirm that there is no longer any national arms embargo between them. Sweden is amending its national legislation on arms exports to NATO Allies. In the future, defense industry exports from Finland and Sweden will be carried out in accordance with Allied solidarity and in the spirit and letter of Article 3 of the Washington Treaty.
- Turkey, Finland and Sweden undertake to take the following concrete steps after negotiations:
They will establish a structured intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation mechanism at all levels, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to enhance consensus-based cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and other common challenges.
Finland and Sweden will carry out the fight against terrorism with determination and determination in line with the provisions of the relevant NATO documents and policies and will take all necessary steps to strengthen their local legislation accordingly.
Finland and Sweden, in line with the European Extradition Convention, will take into account the information, evidence and intelligence provided by Turkey, to process Turkey’s deportation or extradition requests regarding terrorist suspects promptly and in all its dimensions, and to develop extradition and security cooperation with Turkey. will make bilateral contractual arrangements.
Finland and Sweden will initiate and prohibit investigations into the fundraising and recruitment activities of the PKK terrorist organization and all its affiliates and front organizations, within the framework recorded in paragraph 5.
Turkey, Finland and Sweden will commit to combating disinformation and will prevent the abuse of their laws for propaganda purposes of terrorist organizations, including activities inciting violence against Turkey.
Finland and Sweden will ensure that their arms export legislation enables new Allied commitments and is compatible with their membership status in NATO.
- Finland and Sweden will support the widest possible inclusion of Turkey and other non-EU Allies in current and future initiatives of the European Union’s Common Security and Defense Policy, including Turkey’s participation in the PESCO project on military mobility.
For the implementation of these steps, Turkey, Finland and Sweden will establish a Permanent Joint Mechanism with the participation of experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Justice, Intelligence Services and Security Agencies. The Permanent Joint Mechanism will be open to the participation of other countries.
- Turkey reaffirms its long-standing support for NATO’s Open Door policy and expresses its support for the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become NATO members at the Madrid Summit.