Turkey’s president warns that relations with Sweden may become much more strained
ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – January 16, 2023) Turkeys connections with Sweden could take a turn for the worse if the Scandinavian country fails to take action against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), branded as terrorist past AnkaraPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday.
Earlier this week, PKK supporters held a demonstration in Stockholmhanging a figure of Erdogan at its feet. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Swedish ambassador Ankara in protest of the PKK rally. In addition, the Turkish General Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal cases in question.
“Our relations with Sweden May will be much more strained if they do not take a stand against this situation.” Erdogan said at a youth meeting in the city Muggle.
The president pointed out that PKK demonstrations were not only held in Sweden but also in Finland, Germany, France and that UK.
“Unfortunately these terrorist organizations continue to emerge in All of (these countries). Of course like Turkeywe will determine our attitude towards them accordingly, Erdogan said.
In mid-May 2022, three months since the beginning of Ukraine crisis, Finland and Sweden submitted their NATO membership applications, abandoning decades of neutrality and referring to a change in the security situation i Europe. The processing of tenders was initially blocked by Turkey due Helsinki and Stockholms long-term support for the PKK, which Ankara considered a threat to its national security.
Nevertheless in June 2022, Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a security memorandum that unblocked the start of negotiations on the accession of the two Scandinavian countries to alliance. The parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including measures against the PKK, and to address Ankaras concern.
But despite the efforts made in this regard, only Turkey and Hungary has not yet approved the membership of the two new candidates out of the 30 members of the alliance.