“This will strengthen Finland’s security, it will strengthen Sweden’s security and it will strengthen NATO’s security. I hope that the Turkish National Assembly will vote on ratification as soon as possible,” Stoltenberg said.
Turkey’s decision to proceed with the ratification of Finland’s accession to NATO was welcomed by the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, stressing that this would strengthen NATO’s security.
In a video message, Jens Stoltenberg says: “I welcome today’s decision by Turkey to proceed with the ratification of Finland’s accession to NATO. This will enhance the security of Finland, enhance the security of Sweden and enhance the security of NATO. I hope that the Turkish National Assembly will vote on ratification as soon as possible.”
At the NATO Summit in Madrid last June, all Allies took the historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Alliance. Stoltenberg underlines that the ratification process for the accession of Finland and Sweden is the fastest in the modern history of NATO. “At a critical time for our security, this will make our Alliance stronger and safer,” emphasizes.
G.G. of NATO also recalls that he recently visited Turkey and met with President Erdogan, during which they agreed to convene a meeting of Turkey, Finland and Sweden at NATO Headquarters. At that meeting last week, everyone recognized that significant progress has been made in implementing the tripartite memorandum signed in Madrid and that swift ratifications for Finland and Sweden are in everyone’s interest.
“The most important thing is that both Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they will join exactly at the same time”underlines Jens Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg notes, finally, that Finland and Sweden sit around the NATO table, are integrated into its political and military structures and exercise more with the Allies. Both countries have received bilateral security assurances from several NATO countries, including the US, UK, Germany and France, and “it is inconceivable that NATO would not respond if Finland or Sweden were attacked.”
“I look forward to the swift completion of the accession process and to welcoming both Finland and Sweden to the NATO family as full members as soon as possible,” concludes the Stoltenberg announcement.
Source :Skai
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