In Sweden, the far-right demonstration seems to affect the chances of getting Turkey’s approval for the NATO application.
10:33•Updated 10:43
In the Swedish media, the foreign minister Pekka Haaviston (green) The NATO statement has become top news.
Haavisto told aam in an interview that Finland may have to reconsider promoting the NATO membership application at the same time as Sweden, if Sweden’s application seems to be stalling. However, Haavisto emphasized that the countries’ simultaneous membership is the primary goal in any case.
The comment has been reported by, for example, the news agency TT.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström wants more information about Finland’s intentions.
– We are in contact with Finland to find out what this actually means, he says in his message to .
He has also given the same comments to the Swedish media, among others For Dagens Nyheter (you switch to another service).
– Sweden respects the understanding between Sweden, Finland and Turkey. That’s what we have done until now and we will continue to do so, he continues.
Turkey has presented demands to Sweden so that it can accept Sweden’s application to the military alliance NATO. The demands have concerned, among other things, the extradition of Kurdish activists to Turkey. Sweden has not agreed to Turkey’s demands.
Last weekend, relations between the two countries deteriorated further when a far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned Islam’s holy book, the Koran, in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. A demonstration has also been held in the city, where the president of Turkey has been hanged Recep Tayyip Erdoğan performing doll.
In Sweden, demonstrations have not been interfered with, as they fall under the scope of freedom of speech and opinion. The Turkish leadership has strongly condemned them.
In the Expressen magazine interview (you will switch to another service) Turkey expert at the Swedish Foreign Policy Institute Aras Lindh points out that the provocations in Sweden have been condemned by all the leading parties. So the reaction is broad.
According to Pekka Haavisto, the Swedish protesters are playing with the country’s security.