Updated 13:47 | Published at 1:35 p.m
How quickly Turkey’s parliament can approve Sweden’s NATO application depends on how well Sweden lives up to its promises, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He makes a direct connection between the security situation “on the streets” and the approval.
– If the attacks on our sanctuaries continue – then we regret, says Erdogan according to state-run Anatolia.
– We do not know how long this issue will be discussed in parliament.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and the Turkish president shook hands during the NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Then Kristersson said that Turkey would ratify the Swedish application “as soon as possible”.
Erdogan promised a final Turkish decision when the country’s parliament reopens, which will happen in October.
– I am not particularly concerned about this. They are currently closed for the summer. I am convinced that our handshake from the Vilnius meeting applies and so do our friends in the US and NATO, Kristersson said in SVT’s Agenda on Sunday.
– I firmly believe that this will work, but it is as we have always said: It is Turkey that holds the baton for Turkish parliamentary decisions.