Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered the protocol for Sweden’s entry into NATO to his country’s Parliament for ratification, his office reported on Monday. Ankara had delayed ratifying Sweden’s membership, accusing Stockholm of being too permissive toward Kurdish militiamen and other groups it considers threats. Turkey was also angered by a series of Koran burnings in Sweden.
The entry of a country into NATO must be ratified by all 31 members of the military alliance. Türkiye and Hungary are the only two countries that have not ratified.
A brief statement from the presidency’s press department says that Erdogan signed the protocol and that it has been sent to the Grand National Assembly. It is unknown when the measure would go to the plenary session of Parliament.
Sweden applauded the decision
The Swedish Government today welcomed the fact that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has initiated the procedures to ratify the Scandinavian country’s entry into NATO after more than a year of blockade.
“We look forward to becoming members of NATO,” wrote the Swedish Prime Minister, the conservative Ulf Kristersson, on the social network X, formerly Twitter.
For his part, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström expressed the expectation that the process will be completed by the end of November and that Sweden will be a full member of the alliance when it holds its meeting of foreign ministers on the following days. 28 and 29 of that month.
“The Secretary General of NATO reported a few days ago that he assumes that Sweden will be a member of NATO before the meeting of foreign ministers at the end of November, that this is the roadmap,” Billström said in statements quoted by the agency. Swedish TT.
The step taken today by Erdogan, however, is the first of three, Billström clarified. “Now it (the protocol) goes to Parliament to be considered and voted on and then goes back to President Erdogan for a final signature, and then it is ready”he added.
On the other hand, the Minister of Defense, Pal Jonson, expressed the expectation that Hungary, the other country that along with Turkey has not ratified Sweden’s entry, “will comply with what was agreed” and approve it before Ankara.
“What Hungary has conveyed is that it will not be the last country to process our application,” he told TT.
The head of NATO hopes to welcome Sweden into the alliance “very soon”
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, expressed this Monday his hope of being able to welcome Sweden “very soon” into the military alliance.
The president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, submitted to his country’s parliament the request for Swedish membership in NATO, in a step that removes a major obstacle for Sweden to become a full member of the transatlantic alliance.
“I look forward to a quick ratification vote, and to be able to welcome Sweden as a full member of NATO very soon.“Stoltenberg said in a brief statement released to the press.
The NATO chief added that he had discussed the matter with Erdogan. “As I told President Erdogan when we spoke, over the weekend, this will make the alliance [militar] be stronger and safer.”
Turkey and Hungary are the only two NATO countries that have not so far ratified Sweden’s accession to the transatlantic alliance.
(With information from AP, EFE and AFP)
Source-www.infobae.com