NATO signs accession protocol for Sweden, Finland
ISTANBUL
Representatives from NATO’s 30 member states signed accession protocols for Finland and Sweden on Tuesday, following their invitations to the military alliance at the historic summit in Madrid last week.
The Secretary General of NATO and the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden held a press conference in Brussels after signing the minutes, where they answered journalists’ questions about the trilateral memorandum with Turkey, where they promised to address Ankara’s concerns about their position on the PKK and FETO terrorist groups.
Stoltenberg recalled that NATO allies had agreed to invite the two Scandinavian countries to join the alliance, and said that the NATO ambassadors had just signed the accession protocols for Finland and Sweden.
“This is a historic day for Finland, for Sweden, for NATO and for Euro-Atlantic security,” he said, adding: “Today we have once again shown that NATO’s door is open.”
The NATO chief also thanked Ankara, Helsinki and Stockholm for their “constructive attitude”.
“The trilateral agreement they signed at the Madrid summit was made possible today,” he continued.
“I know that all three parties are working hard on implementation and robust follow-up, especially in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Stoltenberg said the next step now is to “ensure rapid ratification” of the accession according to their national procedures.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, for his part, said the Madrid summit made a “historic decision” to invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
“I am pleased to see the signing of the Accession Protocol by all NATO allies,” he said.
“Look forward to participating in the Alliance’s work as an invited member from now on.”
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde said that her country will contribute to “the security of all allies”.
She believes that joining NATO is the best way for Sweden to “secure our national security and keep the Swedish people safe”.
Madrid Summit
Regarding the historic memorandum signed by Ankara, Helsinki and Stockholm at the summit, the Swedish top diplomat said: “We made a memorandum of understanding between Finland, Sweden and Turkey to address Turkey’s concerns about security and terrorism.
“We will respect that memorandum. We will also have a common mechanism.”
She expressed her hopes for a speedy ratification process.
In response to questions about the memorandum, Stoltenberg said: “I believe that the unity that NATO allies have shown by inviting Finland (and) Sweden to join and also the unity we showed at the Madrid summit shows how NATO can deliver when we must stand together. “
Finland’s Foreign Minister, for his part, said his country had always had a “very good and long-lasting relationship” with Turkey.
“When Türkiye applied for EU membership, we were one of the countries that advocated (for) that process,” he recalled.
So this constant communication will of course continue now even during this ratification process, he promised. “In this document and in this memorandum, we have actually addressed all the concerns that Türkiye also raised, including the terrorists, the PKK,” he added.
Stoltenberg also added that the memorandum is “very important” because it is a “strong document” that provides a good platform for Finland, Sweden and Turkey to work together to fight terrorism, which he defines as a “major concern” for all Allies. .
The two countries avoided neutrality and applied to join NATO in May, a decision spurred on by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
But Türkiye, a longtime member of the alliance, objected to their membership offer and criticized the countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups.
Ahead of the summit, Ankara and the two Scandinavian countries signed the memorandum after four-way talks, including NATO in Madrid.
The agreement allows the two Nordic countries to become NATO members but conditioned them to take action against Turkey’s concerns about terrorism and lift an arms embargo on Ankara.
Following the trilateral agreement, NATO formally invited Sweden and Finland to join the 30-member military alliance.
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