Published: Less than 40 min ago
Updated: Less than 30 min ago
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is clear – Sweden and Finland will join NATO now.
But Turkey is not convinced that the countries have done enough.
– Sweden and Finland have delivered. It is time, says Stoltenberg at a press meeting with the Turkish foreign minister.
Turkey has promised to ratify Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership if they complete the agreement signed in Madrid in June.
But so far, Turkey has not given the green light and demands, among other things, that people labeled as terrorists be extradited to Turkey.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is now on a three-day visit to Turkey and today held a live press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul.
Stoltenberg: “I have spoken with Ulf Kristersson”
Stoltenberg emphasized that he believes that Sweden and Finland have met the requirements for ratification and increased their cooperation with Turkey.
– We have now seen that Sweden and Finland implemented measures to fight terrorism and restrictions on arms sales as part of the agreement. I have spoken to Ulf Kristersson and Sanna Marin and they believe that it is also important for them to fight terrorism because it is in everyone’s interest, says Stoltenberg.
Cavusoglu: Turkey not yet convinced
Foreign Minister Cavusoglu stated that the agreement between Turkey, Sweden and Finland must be fulfilled. He believes that Turkey is not yet convinced of the measures from the countries and that a lifted arms embargo is not enough, writes the government-loyal website Daily Sabah.
– What is most important is the concrete fulfillment, he says according to TT’s translation.
Tomorrow, Friday, Stoltenberg will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
– I look forward to welcoming Sweden and Finland as full members in the near future. And I look forward to working with you Mr Cavusoglu and Turkey in the future, says Stoltenberg.
Next week, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) will travel to Turkey to discuss the NATO application.
All NATO countries have ratified Sweden and Finland, except Turkey and Hungary. Earlier on Thursday, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated in an interview with Ekot that there are “positive signals” about Hungary’s ratification before the turn of the year.