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Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson
Photo: FREDRIK SANDBERG / EPA
Sweden and Finland want to join NATO - but Turkey has so far opposed the admission of the two countries.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently justified his blocking stance by saying that the Scandinavian countries are “like a guest house for terrorist organizations”.
Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has now clearly contradicted this.
"Of course it's about where we send our financial aid and that we sell weapons," said the prime minister.
"We don't send money to terrorist organizations, obviously - or weapons."
Diplomatic delegations from Sweden and Finland traveled to Ankara on Wednesday to dispel Turkish concerns about NATO's northern expansion.
Andersson said they would "discuss a number of things that were unclear in media reports or statements elsewhere."
It is assumed that Turkey is linking the accession of the two countries to conditions such as stricter action by Sweden and Finland against the Kurds.
The lifting of the restriction on arms deliveries, which some NATO members such as Germany have issued because of Turkey's actions against the Kurds in Syria, may also be on Turkey's list of demands.
Should Ankara stick to the veto, the two northerners could not join the defense alliance.
The NATO treaty states that the accession of new countries must be decided unanimously by all members.
Greece's prime minister warns of internal strife
Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the numerous overflights of Turkish fighter jets over inhabited Greek islands could weaken NATO's south-eastern flank.
"The last thing we need in NATO right now is another source of political instability," Mitsotakis said.
Greece and Turkey both belong to the western military alliance, but have historically difficult relations.
On Wednesday, the faults were again openly apparent.
According to statements by the Greek prime minister during a visit to Washington, Erdoğan said: "For me, Mitsotakis no longer exists".
Mitsotakis now said he didn't want to let the thread of conversation with the neighbor break.
"I will raise the issue (of overflights, ed.) until Turkey changes its stance," he said.
Overall, Athens is still willing to hold talks with Turkey.
»We are neighbors and will keep the channels of communication open.«
fek/Reuters/dpa