“We have a real problem on this issue,” Kalin said today, saying there was a risk that lawmakers would reject the law.
Turkey is “not in a position” to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership as it is, said today Ibrahim Kalina spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following an incident last week that caused friction between Ankara and Stockholm.
“We are not able to send the law (for ratification) to the Parliament, we have a real problem in this matter,” Kalin stressed today, saying that there is a risk that the MPs will reject the law.
A video posted on Twitter by a Kurdish organization showing an effigy of Erdogan hanging by the feet from a rope in front of Stockholm’s city hall has angered Turkey with the Swedish ambassador to Anchor to be invited by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
That incident came at a time when Turkey continues to block Sweden’s – as well as Finland’s – NATO membership, accusing it of harboring members of the PKK and other allied groups, whom Ankara calls terrorists.
“We have been involved in this process for six or seven months and it is not good for Sweden to appear in this light”Kalin said while speaking to foreign media reporters.
“We want to move forward, but if these types of incidents continue, they will slow down the process.”
For Kalin, Sweden needs to send “a clear message” about the attitude of PKK members on its soil.
“They must (…) for example guarantee that (PKK members) can no longer recruit or collect money” on Swedish soil.
He acknowledged, however, that the new Swedish government has taken several important steps, including the Swedish prime minister’s visit to Ankara shortly after taking office as well as “amending the Constitution, a positive step.”
However, we will need to wait “six months” until the new relevant laws are drawn up and ratified by Parliament, he noted.
In addition, Kalin confirmed that the Turkey “it is not asking Sweden or Finland for anything that is not in accordance with their legislation: we are very realistic.”
The Turkish government has specifically called for the deportation of many members of the PKK and the FETO movement, led by preacher Fethullah Gulen, which Ankara accuses of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt.
In this context, a PKK member was sent back from Stockholm in early December – and immediately imprisoned in Turkey.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
