Finland Reluctant To Take Turkey's Security Issues Seriously, Spokesperson For President Erdogan: Join NATO Or Protect Terrorists?

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shows Sweden and Finland application forms. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - Finland must stop 'protecting' what Turkey considers a terrorist organization, taking Turkey's security issues seriously if it wants Turkey to accept it in NATO, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman told a Finnish newspaper on Tuesday.

"The problem is not that Finland will not understand Turkey. Finland refuses to take Turkey's security issues seriously," Turkey's presidential communications director Fahrettin Altun told Finland's largest daily Helsingin Sanomat by email.

Turkey objected to Finland and Sweden joining the Western defense alliance, arguing they were hosting people linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group and others it deems terrorists.

In addition, Turkey's objections are also based on the cessation of arms exports from Sweden and Finland to Ankara in 2019.

Altun's words echo what President Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser, Ibrahim Kalin, told his US counterpart on Monday, calling on the two Nordic countries.

Kalin called for Sweden and Finland to immediately "take concrete steps regarding terrorist organizations that threaten Turkey's national security".

"In the end, the Finnish government has to decide which is more important, joining NATO or protecting this kind of organization (terrorists)," Altun said.

As previously reported, Finland and Sweden officially signed up to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance on May 18.

"This is a historic moment, one that we must seize," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a brief ceremony in which the Swedish and Finnish ambassadors to the alliance submitted their applications, each on a white folder bearing the national flag of each country.

"I warmly welcome Finland and Sweden's request to join NATO. You are our closest partner, and your membership in NATO will enhance our mutual security," Stoltenberg continued.

The Alliance considers that the accession of Finland and Sweden will greatly strengthen and enhance its capabilities in the Baltic Sea. As for Turkey's objections, Stoltenberg said it could be resolved.

"We are determined to address all issues and reach a swift conclusion," Stoltenberg said, noting the strong support from all other allies.