The Prime Minister of Sweden is ready to resume negotiations with Turkey when he is in Ankara – #Prime #Minister #Sweden #ready #resume #negotiations #Turkey #Ankara
TALLINN, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday that Sweden’s NATOstalled negotiations regarding the application for membership Turkey ready to start again as soon as it arrives.
Finland and Sweden shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine last year NATOand although most member states have ratified the applications, Turkey has not yet agreed to the unanimous process.
Three countries progressed last year way but Ankara suspended the talks due to rising tensions following protests in Stockholm last month, where a far-right politician burned a copy of the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
“The first thing we have to do is calm the situation down,” Kristersson told a press conference during his visit to the Estonian capital. “It’s hard to negotiate well when everything is burning around you.”
He said that the initial conditions for the resumption of negotiations are good, but it is important to understand that Turkey is focused on domestic politics due to the elections to be held in Turkey in May.
“As soon as they are ready (for talks), we are obviously ready,” Kristersson said.
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Last week Turkey Finland’s appeal is positive, but the two Northern neighborsflour said it did not support Sweden’s request, although it tried to join at the same time.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Tuesday that he hoped Finland and Sweden would soon become members.
“The goal is to accept both Finland and Sweden as soon as possible,” Niinisto said at a joint press conference with Canada’s governor-general in Helsinki.
Niinisto said that Finland and Sweden are moving forward in full “mutual understanding” and NATOare in close contact with the headquarters, the White House and Turkey.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Sweden and Finland’s membership would benefit the wider Baltic region.
“It would be better for both countries to join for the security of our region,” he said.
Reporting by Simon Johnson and Terje Solsvik Editing by Anna Ringstrom and Ed Osmond
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-07 16:54:04
Source – reuters
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