Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tries to convince Ankara, that her country has never supported the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey. Furthermore, the minister indirectly accused President Erdogan of spreading disinformation on this issue.
Due to widespread misinformation about Sweden and the PKK, we would like to remind, that the government of Olof Palme was the first after Turkey to include the PKK in the list of terrorist organizations back in 1984 year. The EU followed suit in 2002 year. This position remains unchanged, said the Swedish Foreign Minister.
As is known, Ankara opposes Finland and Sweden joining NATO, accusing the leadership of these countries of supporting the anti-Turkish terrorist organization PKK. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly stated, which will veto the decision on the entry of these two Scandinavian states into the North Atlantic Alliance.
Despite loud statements and even facts, cited by the head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry regarding the lack of support for the PKK by Stockholm, Turkey does not intend to withdraw its claims. Ankara presents its evidence, Kurdish militants, committing terrorist acts against the Turkish military, use swedish weapons.
According to some political scientists, Turkey, actually, it is not so important to prevent the appearance of two more member countries in NATO. President Erdogan uses this situation to resolve the issue of ensuring the national security of his country. Ankara is also outraged by the fact, that Sweden and Finland are among the countries, which with 2019 maintain an embargo on the supply of arms to Turkey.
Additionally, in Ankara, Stockholm was reminded, that it was the Swedish authorities who at one time blocked Turkey's entry into the European Union, stated, that "Turkey is not yet ready for EU membership". Now Turkey claims, that Sweden is "not yet ready for NATO membership".
Likely, as the same Turkish media write, Erdogan will give consent to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO, but only on your own terms.. Turkish newspaper Sabah shares information, that Ankara already has a list of ten demands, the implementation of which may open the way for Helsinki and Stockholm to join NATO. Author:Alexander Grigoriev Photos used:Wikipedia
