NATO has been turned upside down again by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who - in addition to his harsh words against the US, Greece and personally... non-existent Mitsotakis - appears laudatory against the North Atlantic Alliance, on the occasion of the accession of Sweden and Finland.
For which, it seems, he is determined to extract significant quid pro quo, as he announced to world opinion a few days ago his intention to invade again against the Kurdish provinces in northern Syria.
According to the British Express, the Greek-Turkish dispute over the Cyprus settlement[/B] may be the latest obstacle to NATO's hopes of bringing Sweden and Finland into the alliance to counter the threat from Russia.
As reported in a report, Turkey is considering putting the status of the pseudo-state of Cyprus on the negotiating table in order to accept the accession of two Scandinavian countries to the defence alliance.
A source close to the "president" of the pseudo-state, Ersin Tatar, confirmed that he called President Erdogan to request that the status of the pseudo-state be put on the NATO talks table.
The source said: "I know that the call was made and I understand that President Tatar received a positive response. Why not use all the leverage we can in this situation? Greece and Cyprus have used their veto on the EU to block any progress and it is time this injustice was resolved."
Tatar revealed in an interview with the Sunday Express that his aim is for the occupied territories to be recognised as an independent state. At the same time, he appears to believe that efforts to reunite the two sides of Cyprus are now futile.
Erdogan is unmoved
It should be noted that on Sunday Erdogan said he would not allow countries "that support terrorism" to join the NATO alliance.
Last week's talks between Sweden and Finland on joining NATO held at Ankara's presidential complex "did not develop at the level expected," Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported, citing statements by the Turkish president.
Speaking to reporters from inside the plane as he was returning to Turkey from a visit to Azerbaijan, Erdogan said: "Unfortunately, the talks held between our delegation and Finland and Sweden did not develop at the level expected."
Noting that Sweden and Finland had expectations from these talks, Erdogan pointed out, however, that the two countries have not taken the necessary steps regarding Turkey's demands, noting that terrorists are still walking the streets of Stockholm, while Sweden protects them "with its own police."
"We cannot repeat the mistakes made in the past (allowing countries to join NATO, which is a security organization) while they support and strengthen such terrorists," the Turkish president said."
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO on May 18, a decision prompted by Russia's war in Ukraine that began on February 24. Turkey has voiced its objections to their membership, arguing that the two countries show tolerance or even support for terrorist groups.
The ten conditions set by Erdogan
Recall that, according to the Turkish pro-government newspaper Sabah, Turkish authorities have prepared a list of 10 demands from Sweden and Finland.
Only in case these demands are met, Ankara will 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) 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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