Erdogan warns Sweden not to count on Turkey for NATO bid – DW – 2023-01-24
Sweden should not expect Turkey’s support for its NATO membership bid after a copy of the Koran was burned in a Stockholm protest, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
The far-right Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Koran during a protest on Saturday afternoon outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Erdogan said in a speech after a cabinet meeting, “Those who allow such blasphemy in front of our embassy can no longer expect our support for their NATO membership.”
“If you love members of terrorist organizations and enemies of Islam so much and protect them, then we advise you to seek their support for the security of your countries,” he added.
Sweden in damage control mode
The Swedish government distanced itself from the action, but referred to the freedom of expression that applies in the Nordic country.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental part of democracy,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on Twitter, “but what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are sacred to many is a deeply disrespectful act,” he added.
His tweet, on Saturday, was too late to prevent Turkey from canceling a planned visit by Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson.
Ankara also called in Stockholm’s ambassador for a dressing down.
On Sunday, dozens of protesters demonstrated outside the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, where they burned a Swedish flag.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström declined to comment on Erdogan’s statements immediately on Monday.
He said, however, “Sweden will respect the agreement that exists between Sweden, Finland and Turkey on our NATO membership.”
Why Sweden needs Turkey’s support
Sweden is trying to convince Turkey to ratify it and Finland’s applications to join NATO.
For an attempt to succeed, it would need the support of all military alliance members.
Turkey and Hungary were the only stops, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised that his parliament would ratify the two bids next month.
Even before the weekend’s events, Turkey demanded that Stockholm hand over Kurdish activists.
Erdogan, on Monday, again criticized Sweden for allowing pro-Kurdish groups, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, to hold demonstrations in the country.
The PKK is considered a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU and the US, but its symbols are not banned in Sweden.
“So you will let terrorist organizations run on your roads and streets and then expect our support to enter NATO. That is not happening,” Erdogan said.
The US says that Koran burning can be sabotage
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said those responsible for burning the Koran “may have been trying to distance ourselves between our two close partners, Turkey and Sweden.”
They “may have deliberately tried to have an impact on the ongoing discussion about Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO,” Price said.
He called the incident “disgusting” and “unfortunate”.
Price declined to comment on whether Washington believed Erdogan’s comments meant definitively closing the door on them.
“Ultimately, this is a decision and an understanding that Finland and Sweden will have to reach with Turkey,” Price said.
lo/ar (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)