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NATO dispute with Turkey: Sweden speaks of "misunderstandings"

2023-01-12T19:20:37.832Z


NATO dispute with Turkey: Sweden speaks of "misunderstandings" Created: 01/12/2023, 20:14 By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi Ulf Kristersson listens to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks. (Archive image) © IMAGO/Henrik Montgomery/TT Turkey continues to block Sweden's entry into NATO. Prime Minister Kristersson now spoke of "misunderstandings" with regard to earlier statements. Munich – In a historic decisio


NATO dispute with Turkey: Sweden speaks of "misunderstandings"

Created: 01/12/2023, 20:14

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Ulf Kristersson listens to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks.

(Archive image) © IMAGO/Henrik Montgomery/TT

Turkey continues to block Sweden's entry into NATO.

Prime Minister Kristersson now spoke of "misunderstandings" with regard to earlier statements.

Munich – In a historic decision amid Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, Sweden and Finland have decided to join NATO.

But just one alliance member, Turkey, is making demands and blocking the process.

NATO dispute with Turkey: Kristersson clarifies earlier statements – “misunderstandings”

With regard to the demands from Ankara, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed a few days ago that Stockholm could not fulfill all of the Turkish government's wishes.

Turkey is making demands “that we cannot and do not want to meet”.

This is likely to relate primarily to political opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara is demanding the extradition of these people.

However, according to the US magazine Politico

, Kristersson has now

made it clear that his statements were "misunderstandings".

The discussions with Turkey would go "very well".

"We're doing exactly what we promised," Kristersson said, according to the magazine.

This applies above all to the fight against terrorism.

Ankara has repeatedly accused Stockholm of being a safe haven for members of the banned Kurdish PKK and the Gülen movement.

Nato dispute with Turkey: Kristersson shows understanding, but also mentions borders

Furthermore, the Swedish head of government underlined that one must recognize that Turkey is one of the countries "that have suffered the most from terrorism".

Bloody clashes between the PKK, which the EU also classifies as a terrorist organization, and the Turkish military have been going on for more than 40 years.

According to Kristersson, another “key task” for Sweden is to strengthen Swedish anti-terrorism laws.

Furthermore, one must also understand "that activities on Swedish territory can be dangerous for other countries, can be directed against other countries".

Sweden still needs Turkish approval for NATO membership.

Nevertheless, Kristersson also emphasized that there are limits to deliveries to Turkey.

Stockholm can only extradite individuals if Swedish courts make a decision to that effect.

"There is no leeway to change that," the head of government clarified.

At the same time, it said: "I don't think that should overshadow the fact that the talks are going well." At the moment, however, Turkey seems unlikely to backtrack, especially ahead of the critical elections.

(bb)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-01-12

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