Turkey’s President is urging Sweden and Finland to criminalize the Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK.
(Photo: Reuters)
Istanbul Turkey is blocking the planned accession of Finland and Sweden to the NATO military alliance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused Sweden of being a “hotbed” for terrorist organizations. Terrorists are also in the Swedish parliament.
Both countries would host people who have ties to groups that Turkey sees as terrorist. Erdogan referred to the Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK and supporters of the preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is said to be behind the failed military coup in 2016.
Furthermore, he cannot agree to the accession of countries that have imposed sanctions on Turkey, Erdogan said in Ankara on Monday. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had already criticized at the weekend that there were export restrictions on armaments because of Turkey’s fight against these groups and called for them to be lifted.
Erdogan further said with regard to the visit of a Finnish and Swedish delegation to Turkey, they should not even bother. “Will they come to convince us? If so, no offense, they shouldn’t bother,” he said.
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The Turkish President had already caused unrest in the alliance last week with negative statements about the possible NATO accession of Finland and Sweden and said that the Scandinavian countries were downright “guest houses for terrorist organizations”.
Sweden and Finland decided to apply for membership
The Swedish government decided on Monday to submit an application for membership to NATO. Finland has already announced its intention to join the alliance. Both countries maintained neutrality for decades. The Russian war of aggression has tipped the mood among the population in favor of NATO membership. Finland is separated from Russia by a border that is around 1,300 kilometers long.
At the weekend, Turkey had shown itself open to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, but made this subject to conditions. This includes dealing differently with those classified as terrorists. All NATO members would have to agree to the admission of the two countries, including Turkey.
More: Finland and Sweden are to become the new NATO bulwarks against Russia