– We have just finished a particularly constructive meeting. I am pleased to announce that we have an agreement that paves the way for Sweden and Finland to join NATO, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference ahead of the NATO summit in Madrid. Sweden and Finland have signed an agreement that addresses Turkey’s concerns, Stoltenberg said. The heads of state in the three countries have agreed on issues related to arms exports and the fight against terrorism. The two Nordic countries have committed themselves to working with Turkey on issues relating to terrorism and terrorist groups. The agreement came after a meeting lasting several hours between the three heads of state and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. – We have had long discussions and it is difficult to know exactly what made them accept it. But overall, it is a good agreement we have reached, says the Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson according to SVT. Applications from the two Nordic countries can now be considered at the summit, which starts on Wednesday. State leaders Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sauli Niinistö and Magdalena Andersson have discussed in a four-hour meeting chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA / Reuters As Stoltenberg announced the deal, he emphasized Turkey’s security concerns. – No ally has suffered from so many brutal terrorist attacks as Turkey. It includes attacks by the Kurdish terrorist group PKK. The governments of the three countries have agreed to expand cooperation in the fight against terrorism. As NATO allies, Finland and Sweden will help protect Turkey from terrorism, says Stoltenberg. Støre: – A historic day – This is a historic day. With Sweden and Finland in NATO, we will have an even stronger defense alliance in Europe, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre after the agreement between the three countries became clear. Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram warmly welcomes Sweden and Finland. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt believes this secures co-operation in the north. – This is a very special evening. I am so happy to see that everything is ready for Sweden and Finland as allies, the night before the NATO summit starts. Now all of us Nordic neighbors stand together for an even more comprehensive collaboration, says Huitfeldt. Photo: Screenshot / Facebook Erdogan: We got what we wanted Turkey has blocked Sweden and Finland from applying for membership in the alliance and set a number of requirements for the two countries to become members. Turkey owes its land to support groups it views as terrorists. It is not yet entirely clear what Sweden and Finland have done to meet Turkey’s demands. The agreement will not be made public until later. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had received what they wanted through the negotiations, according to the AFP news agency. The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has received an agreement from a representative of the Turkish delegation. The agreement will, among other things, oblige Sweden and Finland to fully cooperate with Turkey in the fight against the PKK promise not to support the organizations YPG and FETO avoid restrictions in the defense industry and increase cooperation, take concrete measures to extradite terrorist criminals and create bilateral agreement schemes Reuters, US President Joe Biden is said to have spoken with Turkish President Erdogan earlier today following a request from Sweden and Finland. The trilateral agreement will not be about the principle of extradition linked to terrorism, but not about individuals, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö told Reuters. Sweden has changed laws and launched new investigations against the PKK to meet demands from Turkey, writes SVT. – It was a very long meeting, where I could tell about all the measures we in Sweden have taken on terrorism legislation, where we in recent years and now really tighten that legislation, says the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to SVT.
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Turkey turns around – opens up for Sweden and Finland to join NATO – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
