Turkey has made it clear for Finland and Sweden to comply to get its NATO bid processed fully, but there is an issue about extradition in Sweden.
Turkey Says Compliance Before NATO Bid
Ankara says it wants the two Nordic nations should first and foremost look at Ankara's security concerns for the nth time as their bids for becoming part of the military bloc, as stated last Tuesday by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Turkish officials are still asking Stockholm and Helsinki to give their word to comply fully, reported Anadolu.
Giving a speech at a joint news conference with his Gambian counterpart Mamadou Tangara, Cavusoglu said while there was nothing more to suggest about its demands about tangible steps need to be taken from this point on," referring to the prosecution of capital crimes, the freezing of terror holdings, and closing terrorist activities.
He added that the bids were on the agenda from day one when they signed the Tripartite Memorandum in June with Sweden and Finland for NATO membership.
The problem is that Stockholm failed to extradite Bulent Kenes, that is not a good development, noted ABC News.
He adds that these coup plotters must be sent to Ankara, also the document signed says it includes all outlaw groups that include FETO, adding that it all depends on the Turkish government's conditions.
Last Thursday, the Turk official added that he would talk to the Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom in his upcoming visit.
Sweden's high court on Monday turned down its request for the detention of Kenes, a wanted criminal terrorist group accused of residing on Swedish soil, declaring that even as he was not convicted to a year's or more's imprisonment in prison, he wasn't qualified for detention.
Bad Precedent for Finland, Sweden
Kenes, the ex-editor of Today's Zaman newspaper, is also a suspect who is connected with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and stays in Sweden. In the vanquished 2016 putsch concocted by FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen, 251 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.
In June, the three nations signed a document that indicated the two Nordic nations will something to join the military bloc. It means complying with the memoranda about the concerns over Ankara's security; that means extraditing and raising the arms embargo set.
Next, the two candidate countries will become full members of the military bloc. But the two Nordic nations are dragging their foot in the mud.
Ankara and Gambia Relations
The Turkish official spoke of the two nations and mentioned they are special relations, also strategic partners in the region, citing Sondakika.
He added the trade volume between the two countries is different from what can be done with its partnership, with a volume of $70 million that is too small.
Boost the mutual investment opportunities and commerce, telling them to continue to extend humanitarian support and aid to the region. The close cooperation with Gambia in the fight against terrorism has given it a good answer by shutting down FETO schools.
Gambia will be the term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), added the OIC summit will be held there, and Ankara wants success.
Mamadou Tangara mentioned that Ankara backed the instruction of police officers in Gambia. Security is the primary necessity for progress. The two foreign ministers signed MOA as part of international cooperation.
Turkey was the extradition of a FETO supporter before Finland and Sweden were allowed to proceed with their NATO bid.
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