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Sweden[/B] has taken significant steps to meet Turkey's demands in order to have its application for NATO membership approved, Alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday during a visit to Sweden.
"I welcome the fact that Sweden has already started to change its anti-terrorism legislation and that it will ensure that its legal framework for arms exports will reflect its future status as a member of NATO with new commitments to its allies," Stoltenberg said at a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
"These are two important steps to address the concerns raised by Turkey," added the NATO Secretary General who expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved as soon as possible.
"We need to address the security concerns of all allies. The aim is to address Turkey's objections to NATO membership as soon as possible, and Sweden and Finland to join NATO as soon as possible," the Alliance chief noted.
However, he did not give a clear time limit, either the Alliance's June 28 meeting in Spain or Sweden's parliamentary elections on September 11. Both candidate countries, Sweden and Finland, have been invited to participate in the summit.
For her part, Anderson said her country "takes Turkey's concerns very seriously", as well as Ankara's objections regarding security issues. "Our ambition," she said, "is to resolve these issues."
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced Sweden, as well as Finland, to change its stance on NATO membership. Stockholm abandoned a long period of neutrality and was quick to declare its intention to join the North Atlantic Alliance, but ran into Turkish disagreement over both countries.
[BR][BR]Tayyip Erdogan has accused both countries of supporting Kurdish fighters, whom Ankara considers "terrorists."
[/P][BR][BR]Tayyip Erdogan has accused both countries of supporting Kurdish militants, whom Ankara considers "terrorists.
Source: protothema.gr
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