Assurances that Finland and Sweden will get the green light From all the member states to join NATO, despite the objections expressed by Turkey, the leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance, the USA and Germany, gave today.
The majority of NATO member states say they are positive about the opening of the Alliance to the two Scandinavian countries, as was evident from yesterday’s informal dinner of the foreign ministers in Berlin.
With unique contradiction Turkey…
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and German Foreign Minister Alena Berbock told a joint news conference today that NATO’s door was open to the two countries if they decided to apply for membership.
“Turkey does not intend to block accession, so I am confident that we will be able to respond to Ankara’s concerns in a way that will not delay the accession process,” Stoltenberg said after the meeting. of the Foreign Ministry, in Berlin.
He added: “Turkey is an important partner. Has expressed some concerns (…) When an ally raises concerns, we have shown for decades that we are able to sit down and find consensus to move forward. This is what we intend to do in this case as well. “Because everyone recognizes the historicity of the moment.”
And the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken moved on the same wavelength, saying the US “strongly supports” its demands Sweden and Finland for NATO membership.
He also noted that he had spoken with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt ÇavuÅŸoλουlu, about Ankara’s concerns about the two countries’ accession and was convinced that it could be achieved. consent.
“I do not want to characterize the specific discussion we had either with the Foreign Minister or during the NATO meetings, but I can say the following: there was very strong support from almost everyone at the table (for accession (Sweden and Finland)). “In the alliance,” Blinken told reporters after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin.
“If that is what they will choose to do, I am absolutely convinced that we will reach a consensus,” he added.
Hard bargain from Turkey
“Thorn” in the accession of Finland and Sweden are the objections of Turkey, which sets three conditions to say “yes”.
Today’s statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt ÇavuÅŸoλουlu in Berlin show that Turkey wants to start trading with Finland and Sweden, so as to gain some consideration.
In particular, Tsavousoglu said that Sweden and Finland should stop supporting terrorists in their countries (PKK), provide clear security guarantees and lift export bans on Turkey, if they seek NATO membership.
In Tsavousoglou’s next statements singled out Finland’s case from Sweden, saying Finland showed respect for Turkish concerns, but Sweden remained “provocative”.
“Unfortunately, the statements of the Swedish Foreign Minister are not constructive. “He continues to make provocative statements,” Tsavousoglu told Turkish journalists in Berlin on the sidelines of an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
“We have always supported NATO’s open door policy. “… But the fact that these two countries are in contact with the members of a terrorist organization, the fact that Sweden is sending them weapons and the fact that they are imposing restrictions on the export of defense equipment to Turkey, is against the spirit of the alliance,” he said. Tsavousoglou.
During his meeting with the two ministers, the latter made him proposals aimed at “answering Turkey’s concerns”, he added.
Tsavousoglou clarified that he expects to see the “guarantees” that will be offered by the two countries.
“There must be an end to support for terrorist organizations and the lifting of restrictions on exports to Turkey. “I’m not saying this to bargain, but because it means being an ally,” he insisted.
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