Turkey concerned over Nordic countries asylum policies.
NATO’s general secretary Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday, Turkey has barred the Nordic countries entry into NATO citing terrorism concerns.
Sweden and Finland had come forth to seek a NATO membership in the following weeks.
But Turkeys objections have stopped NATO officials from granting a complete membership to the Nordic countries.
Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said during a press conference last Friday, that Turkey will not allow Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO, as these countries have allegedly “harboured terrorists” fleeing from Turkey.
NATO’s general secretary Jens Stoltenberg expressed his concerns in a tweet last Monday saying, “Turkey is a valued ally of NATO and any security concerns must be addressed before progressing. We must work together to prevail.”
The solution of Turkeys security concerns.
Stoltenberg met Turkeys foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during an informal 2 day meet of NATO foreign minister’s previously.
Where Cavusoglu had reiterated his government’s terrorism concerns over Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO.
Photo source : Reuters
Sweden and Finland have a record of granting political asylum to people from Turkey, especially ethnic Kurds, fleeing internal conflicts.
Turkey alleges some of them are terrorists, and have regularly criticized the nations for hosting them. The formerly neutral European countries have a long history of granting political asylums to Turkish dissidents on the run
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden and Finland shouldn’t even bother to send delegations to Ankara for discussing the terrorism concerns of Turkey.
In addition to Turkeys objections, Sweden and Finland had also restricted trade with Turkey, which they must reverse now to win Turkey’s approval for their NATO bids.
Nordic delegation on the move.
Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said on Monday a delegation of diplomats were preparing to go to Turkey for resolving the matter.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto said last week that he was “taken aback” by Ankara’s obstruction, but was prepared to discuss the situation with President Erdogan for speedy resolution of the issue.
The two Nordic European nations decided to erase their history of neutrality and join NATO after Russia commenced it’s Invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow has declared that Sweden and Finland will compromise their national security by joining a military bloc that Russia considers hostile, serving the bidding of Washington.
Unlike other US allies, Turkey has refused to retaliate against Russia over the Ukraine crisis with economic sanctions, and has played the role of mediator between Moscow and Kiev.
Conclusion.
NATO’S general secretary Jens Stoltenberg has expressed his views on the issue by validating Turkish participation into NATO agendas as crucial for success.
He has also said that terrorism concerns by Turkey must be addressed by Sweden and Finland before membership can be granted to them.
Photo source: Getty images.
Without Turkeys approval the two Nordic European countries of Sweden and Finland may face significant problems to join NATO, despite their intent for membership.
Edited by : Kanishka Gupta.
Published by : Sanat Sari Saren.
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