Sweden has promised to change anti-terror laws.
Erdogan's doll at a demonstration in Stockholm last week (Photo: Reuters)
Turkey is delaying Sweden's accession to NATO under the shadow of claims that it is not doing enough to fight terrorism as it has promised. Turkey and Hungary are the only two countries that have not yet ratified the entry of Sweden and Finland into the alliance, which they aspire to join in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine. Advisor to the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday (Saturday) that it is not expected to be read before the country's elections, which will be held in May or
June.Anger in Ankara about Stockholm grew following a protest demonstration in Stockholm against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose doll was displayed hanging by protesters. In response, Turkey canceled a planned visit by the speaker of Sweden's parliament, and the prosecution in the country opened an investigation.
"Stockholm is fully committed to the implementation of the agreement signed last year in Madrid, but the country needs six more months to enact new laws that will allow the judicial system to apply the new definitions of terrorism," said Ibrahim Kalin, an adviser to Erdogan.
Last year, Sweden and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkey, which included demands that they lift the embargo they imposed on the sale of arms to Ankara and hand over those wanted for membership in the Kurdish underground and involvement in the 2016 coup attempt.
The parliament will have to vote on the approval of the two Nordic countries joining NATO, which agreed that they will do so at the same time.
Kalin said that the Swedish government should send a clear message to the "terrorist organizations that Sweden will no longer serve as a haven for them and that they will not be able to collect funds, recruit members and carry out other activities" from her territory. "We have an issue of time if they want to join NATO before the NATO summit in June.
Since the parliament went into recess for a certain period before the elections, there is a time frame of two to two and a half months to complete everything."
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