Turkey calls Sweden’s envoy “insulting” TV program – Region – World
The Kurdish comic series Kadir Meral received an episode on Svenska Nyheter’s satirical program. Photo: Screenshot/SVT
“The Turkish Foreign Ministry today summoned the Swedish ambassador in Ankara, Staffan Herrström, because of a broadcast on Swedish television (SVT) that contained insulting statements and images against Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” says the Anadolu news agency.
Finland and Sweden shed decades of military non-alignment and fought to become NATO members in May, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine.
But Erdogan threatened to block their bid and sought concessions.
Finland, Sweden and Turkey struck a deal in June, which included provisions on extradition and information sharing, paving the way for NATO to formally invite the two nations to join the Western military alliance.
Only Hungary and Turkey have not yet sent their membership bids to their parliaments for ratification.
All 30 NATO members must ratify all bids before membership.
Erdogan on Saturday renewed his threat to block their application until the two nations “kept” the promises they made to Ankara.
He has repeatedly accused both countries of harboring Kurdish militants, particularly singling out the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and of promoting “terrorism”.
A delegation from Sweden is to visit Turkey this week for talks, following a meeting between Finnish, Swedish and Turkish officials in Finland in August.
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