The United States is trying to clarify Erdogan’s statement
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto called for patience. He noted that, This position of Ankara snowWe need to move step by step in this approach.
The US Department of Defense said that, United States, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Finland and Sweden NATOHe is trying to clarify what he said about joining the alliance, but Ankara’s position in the alliance according to has not changed.
According to Reuters according toministry spokesman John Kirby told reporters on May 13.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto issued a statement the same day urging patience. He supports this position of Ankara snowHe called for a step-by-step approach to the issue.
“Such processes require some patience, it does not happen overnight. Let’s solve the problems step by step, “Haavisto told reporters.
Reuters writes that, Erdogan’s statement came as a surprise to Finland. Because Haavisto has visited Turkey twice in recent months. In addition, in early April, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto had a telephone conversation with Erdogan and After the talks, Niinisto wrote on Twitter that Ankara supported Finland’s request.
Let `s note that, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on May 13 that, his country is Finland and Sweden NATO“does not look positively” to join.
Erdogan explained to journalists the reason for this, Sweden and Kurdish separatists in other Scandinavian countries and He said it was related to Ankara’s claims that Turkey supported other groups it considered terrorists.
Erdogan noted that, Turkey does not want to repeat the “mistake” it once made with Greece.
He said that, Turkey in Greece in 1980 NATOAlthough he agreed to rejoin Ankara, Athens later became hostile to Ankara.
Western agencies write that, Turkey can use its veto power in NATO to block this process, because it needs the voice of all members.