The President of the Parliament of Türkiye, Numan Kurtulmussigned this Wednesday the bill on the Sweden’s accession protocol to NATOwhich is now in the hands of the Foreign Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in what already represents the definitive start of the parliamentary procedures for the definitive ratification of the document.
The text points out that Türkiye has asked both Finland and Sweden to take “concrete measures to address the country’s legitimate security concerns, especially in the fight against terrorism and the lifting of sanctions and restrictions on the export of military industry products.”
“Taking into account our bilateral relations with Sweden and the level achieved by the country in demonstrating its interoperability with NATO, it has been concluded that its accession will contribute to the security of NATO, including the security of Turkey,” indicates the bill, according to information from the television network TRT.
The measure comes shortly after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the protocol and sent it to the Turkish Chamber, precisely, for ratification.
“We look forward to becoming members of NATO,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote at the time on the social network X, formerly Twitter.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billstromexpressed the expectation that the process will have been 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 28th and 29th 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.
Sweden’s path to joining NATO began during the allies’ summit in Madrid in the summer of 2022, but since then Its accession has been blocked by Türkiye and Hungarywho have not yet ratified their entry.
Even if the Turkish Parliament votes in favor of Sweden joining the Atlantic Alliance, Stockholm will still need Budapest also gives its approvalthus achieving the approval of all NATO members.
The Swedish Defense Minister, 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.
The authorities have on several occasions pointed out the presence of pro-Kurdish movements in Sweden, especially with regard to any support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which they consider a terrorist organization.
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.
(With information from EP, AP, EFE and AFP)
Source-www.infobae.com