Turkey blocked[/B] NATO's initial decision regarding Finland and Sweden's applications to join the military alliance.
The postponement raises doubts as to whether NATO will be able to approve the first stage of Finland's and Sweden's applications within a week or two, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. It also paves the way for several days of intensive diplomacy between the United States, Turkey, Finland and Sweden on the issue, the Financial Times notes.
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The two countries' request for membership must be given the green light by all 30 member states of the Alliance.
However, for this process to begin, NATO must issue an accession protocol and formally invite the two countries to join.
NATO declined to comment, only echoing Stoltenberg's comments that "the interest in the security of all allies must be taken into account. We are determined to work on all issues and reach a quick result."
Stoltenberg's optimism was not borne out
Jens Stoltenberg felt the need to state that he finds some of Ankara's objections and demands well-founded. "Turkey is a valuable ally and any security concerns must be addressed," he said on Twitter after a telephone conversation with Cavusoglu.
For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared optimistic that Turkey would eventually support Sweden and Finland's NATO membership.
So far, the objections raised by the Turkish government relate to Sweden's and Finland's support for Kurdish fighters in Syria, their attitude towards the PKK, and the sanctions imposed on Turkey in the area of arms sales.
Ankara's ten conditions
According to the Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah, however, the Turkish authorities have prepared a list of 10 demands from Sweden and Finland.
Only if these demands are met will Ankara be able to reconsider its stance on the issue of the Scandinavian countries' NATO membership, the paper said.
The list of Turkish demands from Helsinki and Stockholm is as follows:
1. Sweden and Finland must "decide on a position" on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.
2. Prevent the holding of events in their parliaments by people linked to terrorist structures, meaning pro-Kurdish organisations.
3. Stop the alleged Turkish provision of material aid to the so-called People's Self-Defense Forces (SNS) in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the PKK
4. Speed up the extradition to Turkey of persons linked to "terrorists"
5. Stop contacts with representatives of Kurdish groups operating in Iraq and Syria.
6. Cut ties with fugitive and wanted members of FETO (the Fethullah Gulen Organization) who are allegedly involved in the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
7. Not to take measures against Turkey's national security.
8. Establish regular contacts and cooperation to fight "terrorism", as the Turks understand the Kurdish liberation struggle.
9. Freeze the bank accounts of persons and organizations linked to terrorist organizations.
10. Not to allow on their territory the activities of non-governmental organizations with an anti-Turkish orientation - which could even include Cypriot organizations.
Source: in.gr
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