According to Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, since the beginning of the NATO process, Turkey has had fewer problems with Finland than with Sweden.
15:37•Updated 15:55
Turkey could evaluate Finland’s NATO application separately, says the Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. He points out that since the beginning of the NATO process, Turkey has had fewer problems with Finland than with Sweden.
However, Finland and Sweden, as well as other NATO allies, have wanted to promote the countries’ NATO membership at the same time. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto (green) assured today at the press conference on Monday afternoon that the joint NATO process will continue.
– I think it would be fair to make a distinction between a problematic country and a less problematic country. Turkey could evaluate Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO applications separately if NATO and the respective countries make a decision on the matter, Çavuşoğlu said at a press conference in Ankara.
In Turkey’s opinion, Sweden has not done enough
Turkey accuses Sweden of not taking concrete steps to suppress groups that Ankara considers terrorists. In addition, the burning of Korans at demonstrations has irritated Turkey.
Swedish-Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned the Koran first in Stockholm and then in Copenhagen near the Turkish embassies.
Last Monday, Turkey broke off the tripartite negotiations between Finland, Sweden and Turkey on the ratification of Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership applications.
Çavuşoğlu stated that Sweden has taken some steps to advance its NATO membership.
– Unfortunately, it has now taken steps backwards, due to the provocations of groups that want to prevent Sweden from joining NATO.
Erdoğan would also hint that Finland could be accepted first
Also the president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday in his televised speech on Sunday gave the impression that Turkey could ratify Finland’s NATO membership without accepting Sweden’s membership.
– If there is a need, we can give a different answer for Finland. And when we give this different answer regarding Finland, Sweden will be shocked, Erdoğan said.
According to him, Turkey has given Sweden a list of 120 people it wants Sweden to hand over. Among the people demanded by Turkey are those who have obtained citizenship in Sweden and those who have received asylum.
Source: AP