War in Ukraine, live: Finland asks to join NATO, proof that “aggression does not pay”, according to the Secretary General of the Alliance

Turkey considers Sweden “provocative”, but becomes more conciliatory with Finland

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu was conciliatory towards Finland on Sunday, but criticized Sweden for “provocative” statements during discussions in Berlin on the two countries’ membership of the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO).

Turkey threatened on Friday to block the process of NATO enlargement to these two Nordic countries, which requires the unanimity of the members of the Alliance.

“The statements of the Swedish Foreign Minister are unfortunately not constructive. She continues to make provocative remarks,” Mr Çavusoglu told the Turkish press in Berlin, on the sidelines of the informal meeting of Atlantic Alliance foreign ministers.

On the other hand, the minister adopted a more conciliatory tone towards Finland, which he described as “very respectful” in the face of Ankara’s “concerns”. “But we don’t see the same thing in Sweden,” he insisted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his hostility to the membership of these two countries on Friday, accusing them of serving as a “hostel for terrorists from the PKK”, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, considered a terrorist organization. by Turkey, but also by the European Union and the United States.

“We have always supported NATO’s open door policy. (…) But the fact that these two countries are in contact with members of a terrorist organization, that Sweden sends them arms and that they impose restrictions on the export of defense equipment to Turkey goes to the ‘against the spirit of alliance,’ said Mr. Çavusoglu.

During his meeting with the two ministers, the latter offered him to undertake “work” to “respond to Turkey’s concerns”, he added. Mr Çavusoglu specified that he was waiting to see “the guarantees” that will be offered by the two countries.

“It is absolutely necessary to end support for terrorist organizations and lift restrictions on exports to Turkey. I’m not saying this as a bargaining chip, but because that’s what it means to be allies,” he insisted.

Several NATO member countries, however, judged on Sunday to be “on the right track” to find a consensus on the integration of Finland and Sweden, Berlin even ensuring that their accession could intervene “very quickly”.

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