Filenews 14 June 2022
Turkey's demands to Sweden and Finland to lift its informal veto on NATO membership seem to have come to light. Turkey has presented Finland and Sweden with a list of ten conditions they must meet to secure Ankara 's support for NATO membership, the Yeni Safak network reported, citing documents in its possession. Although the Turkish government has not yet confirmed the authenticity of this list, its contents correspond to previous official statements by Ankara.
Turkey has opposed the two Nordic countries joining the military alliance, describing Finland and Sweden as "hostels of terrorist organizations", implying that they are hosting members of Kurdish groups, such as the pro-Kurdish Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). in Turkey. The list of demands, if confirmed, shows that terrorism-related fears remain a key issue for Ankara regarding Helsinki and Stockholm joining NATO. Seven out of ten requirements are related to this issue. To close the offices of PKK and FETO As a first demand, Turkey is said to have Finland and Sweden to support the country "in its fight against terrorist organizations", including the PKK and the Fethullah Emirate Organization (FETO), which is suspected of plotting a coup in Turkey. in 2016, as well as their affiliate teams. Another condition on Ankara's list is that Sweden and Finland must "set the necessary legal rules and legal framework to fight terrorism". Turkey also wants the Swedish and Finnish authorities to prevent any attempt to set up offices for PKK affiliates. FETO's activities in the two countries should be banned and their websites and press offices should be closed, according to the list published by Yeni Safak. Ankara has also called for a freeze on the assets of organizations linked to terrorism, the deportation and extradition of terror suspects and a ban on demonstrations in support of them. Lift arms restrictions to the detriment of Turkey Finland and Sweden have also reportedly been asked to share information with Turkey and lift restrictions on the defence industry. In 2019, some European nations, including Sweden and Finland, introduced a ban on arms trade with Turkey in response to its military invasion of Syria. "It was also stated that if Sweden and Finland become members of NATO, they must fulfil these commitments," the last item on the list said. Earlier this month, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto admitted that Finland, due to the attitude of Turkish officials in Helsinki, had reached "a kind of purge" which "did not exactly wait". Assurance that the differences will be overcome In late May, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson responded to Turkey's main concerns, saying it was easy for her to prove that Sweden does not send money or weapons to terrorist organizations. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly said that the security concerns of all members must be addressed, but has not publicly called on Sweden and Finland to comply with Turkey's demands. He expressed confidence that they would overcome their differences, as the consent of all NATO countries is required to add a new member to the alliance. Finland and Sweden, which remained outside NATO during the Cold War, have decided to join the bloc in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has criticized the measure, saying it considers it a threat to its own security and must therefore provide an appropriate response. iefimerida.gr