We will stick to the current requirements, even if the security situation in Finland and Sweden suddenly deteriorates

We will stick to the current requirements even if the

If NATO separates the applications of Finland and Sweden, “we will evaluate Finland separately and more positively”, said Çavuşoğlu. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland denies Çavuşoğlu’s view that the countries would have a joint application.

10:09am•Updated 1:55pm

Turkey is not easing its demands towards Finland and Sweden, but could consider Finland’s NATO ratification separately and more positively, said the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu today during his visit to Tallinn.

Çavuşoğlu and the Foreign Minister of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu held a joint press conference in the morning after their meeting.

reporter who was there Rain School asked whether Turkey has already decided to process Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership applications separately.

Çavuşoğlu replied that it is not Turkey’s business at this stage to process the applications separately, as Finland and Sweden have applied to NATO together. According to him, it is up to Finland, Sweden and NATO to separate the applications if they wish.

– If the applications are separated, Turkey will evaluate Finland separately and more positively, Çavuşoğlu said.

Head of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Piritta Asunmaa denies Yelle Çavuşoğlu’s interpretation of the situation. He says that Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO application is not joint.

– Each country applies for membership alone. Finland applies as Finland and Sweden as Sweden. We have not made a joint application for Finland and Sweden, but we have progressed together and will progress together, says Asunmaa.

Turkey’s position “remains firm”

Estonia’s Reinsalu said at the beginning of the press conference that he made it clear to his colleague that for Estonia the smooth progress of Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership is an existential issue and necessary for Europe and NATO more broadly.

A reporter from Estonian Public Radio asked Çavuşoğlu if he understands how important it is for Estonia’s security that Finland and Sweden become NATO members.

Çavuşoğlu said he understood the security concerns of Estonia, Finland and Sweden. According to him, NATO faces two threats: Russia and terrorism, and Turkey expects other NATO members, as well as Finland and Sweden, to also understand Turkey’s security concerns.

He repeated his previous words that the situation in Finland is simpler, but Sweden in particular has not fulfilled its obligations in the memorandum of understanding. He would say several times that Turkey’s security concerns must be listened to.

Çavuşoğlu was directly asked how Turkey would act if it knew that Russia was planning to attack the NATO candidate countries Finland or Sweden in the coming weeks.

– Regardless of any provocations or threats, our position is clear. As long as the candidates fulfill their obligations, we view the application positively. Whatever the situation, this position of ours will remain firm, Çavuşoğlu said.

Çavuşoğlu previously flashed a separate assessment

Çavuşoğlu’s comments at the Tallinn press conference were largely in line with what he has said in recent days as well.

Çavuşoğlu has already said in two previous press conferences this week that “Turkey could evaluate Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO applications separately if NATO and the respective countries make a decision on the matter.”

He has also repeated Turkey’s point of view that Finland’s case is simpler than Sweden’s.

Doctor of research Iro Sarkkä evaluated Çavuşoğlu’s previous statements to yesterday, Tuesday. According to him, Turkey is ready to listen to Sweden and Finland.

– But Turkey can act however it wants in this matter. However, Turkey is ready to listen to Finland and Sweden. In my opinion, it shows that the communication links are open, Särkkä said.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shuddered in a television program broadcast on Sunday night, where he said for the first time that Turkey might be ready to deal with Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO memberships separately. According to him, Turkey could ratify Finland’s membership without Sweden, as long as Finland “does not make the same mistake” as Sweden.

In Tallinn, Foreign Ministers Çavuşoğlu and Reinsalu discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Estonia, Russia’s war of aggression and the broader European security situation.

Story updated at 1:55 p.m. Added the comment of Piritta Asunmaa, head of the political department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

yl-01