Turkey told Sweden that its NATO bid could only be completed if the terms of the agreement were complied with. It was stressed that the Nordic nation seems not keen on the agreement signed by both countries.
Sweden's NATO Bid Might Not Be Achieved
Last Sunday, President Tayyip Erdogan clarified that extraditing terrorists harbored in Stockholm is expected, or no entry to the military block. Ankara won't accept EU states allowing enemies that threaten it, according to ANews.
He added in Mugla in the country's southwest that a total of 130 terrorists should be handed over to allow the Turkish legislature to ratify their bid. But they are not doing this. Mentioning a joint press conference done in November with the Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the Turkish leader told the Swedish PM to surrender the fugitive terrorist FETO suspect Bulent Kenes, cites Anadolu Agency.
But the Swedish court instead stopped the deportation of the FETO suspect. Kenes was the former editor-in-chief of Today's Zaman daily and a FETO member residing in the Nordic country.
The terrorist group tried a coup to overthrow the government with the US-based leader, Fetullah Gulen. As a result, 251 people were killed, with 2,734 hurt in the uprising, per a report from Middle East Monitor.
One more observation by the Turkish leader is the terror group PKK has been visible in Stockholm. It is a point of contention that no attempt to stop the PKK/PYD demonstrations has been made.
It should be noted that Erdogan stated that Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop had postponed a visit of Andreas Norlen because of this, as a reaction to the action of the PKK, tolerated by the Swedish government.
Later it provoked a reaction to what the Nordic nation was doing that was only causing more tension. He said that their stand should be concrete against these terror groups.
Turkey Threatened by Presence of Terrorists in Sweden
Erdogan commented these terror groups were evident; these military bloc hopefuls are seen in other European countries. They are Germany, France, and the UK though the PKK is in the European Union and has listed them as terror suspects. Ankara will decide to consider how to define its status.
A terror campaign directed against Ankara that has lasted for 35 years; was conducted by the PKK, the US, EU that has caused the deaths of 40,000 people. It includes women, children, and infants; also, the YPG-PYD is a part of its Syrian part.
In the June memorandum with the Erdogan government, Stockholm and Helsinki agreed to do something about these terrorists or not become a member of the military coalition. Due according to them caused by threats faced in the Ukraine conflict.
One condition to complete their bid to join is to get all members to say yes, but Erdogan and Hungary backing it up are making it hard for the leadership of the military bloc to admit them. Some steps that were taken were noted, but it was not enough, remarked the Turkish leader. Sweden wants to join NATO, but Turkey stands in the way as long as its demands are not met.
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