THE Turkish President Tayyip Erdoganwhich opposes Sweden ‘s accession to NATO, called her on Saturday “put an end to its political and financial support and arms deliveries to terrorist organizations».
Erdogan had his first telephone conversation today with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson since the start of the open crisis between the two countries, as well as with Finland, regarding their accession to the Atlantic Alliance.
A statement issued after the communication said that the Turkish president said that “expects Sweden to take concrete and serious action, showing that it shares Turkey’s concerns about the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) terrorist organization and its affiliates in Syria and Iraq».
As broadcast by Anadolu state news agency, The Turkish president also told the Swedish Prime Minister that the embargo on arms exports imposed on Turkey in 2019 after the Turkish invasion of Syria in October 2019 should be lifted.
As noted by the French Agency, the telephone communication of the two was not scheduled.
Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership on Wednesday following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
Turkey took them by surprise last week NATO allies raising objections to the two countries’ accessionbut Western leaders have expressed confidence that Ankara ‘s objections will not stand in the way of the two countries’ accession to the Alliance.
Ankara claims Sweden and Finland sponsor members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and with supporters of the former imam, the self-exiled in the US Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the failed coup in 2016.
At the same time, Erdogan had “open and direct” talks with him today President of Finland Sauli Niinistoas the latter stated, on the subject of the request submitted by Helsinki for NATO membership.
After their telephone communication, Niinisto tweeted: “I have informed him that as NATO allies Finland and Turkey will be committed to each other’s security and thus our relationship will be strengthened. Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The close dialogue goes on”.
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