Support NATO Membership, Turkey Wants Sweden To Fulfill Obligations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received a visit from Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkey)

JAKARTA - Turkey expects Sweden to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), but must take specific steps in implementing Madrid's memorandum to join the alliance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Ankara on Tuesday.

"We really hope that Sweden will implement a memorandum of joining NATO signed by three countries (Turkey, Finland and Sweden). We expect specific steps in accordance with the spirit of the alliance in our relations," President Erdogan said, launching TASS November 9.

The Turkish leader added that above all, Ankara expects Sweden to allay concerns related to warding off organizations Turkey considers terrorists, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and FETO organizations "which take advantage of the democratic atmosphere in Sweden."

According to him, Sweden lifted restrictions on sending military products to Turkey a positive step. He also said a new meeting between representatives of the three countries would take place in Stockholm by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Sweden's prime minister assured President Erdogan his country would fulfill Madrid's memorandum.

"We share Turkey's concerns that suffer from terrorism more than anything else in NATO. Sweden wants to help Turkey fight terrorism," said PM Kristersson.

"We recognize the responsibilities that involve our NATO membership. I speak to the Turkish nation, Sweden will fully comply with all obligations to ward off terrorism it gives to Turkey (in the framework of a memorandum)," he stressed.

Earlier, he stated Swedish authorities would not cooperate with organizations that have ties to the banned PKK in Turkey.

The head of the Swedish Administration arrived in Turkey on November 7 on an official visit, to hold talks on the Turkish parliament ratifying its country's application to access NATO membership.

Finland and Sweden, which signed up to join NATO on May 18, are expected to receive an official invitation to become members of the bloc at a NATO summit in Madrid some time ago.

However, Turkey blocked the accession process demanding these countries declare the Kurdish organization a terrorist, extradited to Ankara. people accused of carrying out terrorist activities or participating in the 2016 state coup attempt, as well as lifting the ban on arms supply to Turkey.

On June 28, before the summit, talks were held between President Erdogan, his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, then Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. After that, a memorandum was signed that allowed Stockholm and Helsinki to join NATO.

It is known, Ankara stated that this memorandum is not final and may not be approved by the Turkish parliament, if Sweden and Finland do not fulfill their obligation to fight terrorist organizations.

In addition, Turkish authorities previously said they expect Sweden to extradite about 70 people involved in terrorist activities.