SVT journalist Silver: Erdogan’s words about the transfer of the Kurds unpleasantly surprised Sweden and NATO
The statement of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on receiving guarantees from Stockholm for the extradition of 73 members of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) turned out to be an “unpleasant surprise” for Sweden, Finland and NATO, writes Swedish SVT journalist Henrik Silver.
According to the author, the words of the Turkish leader “surprised the entire press corps.” “The statement really came as an unpleasant surprise for Sweden, Finland and 29 NATO member countries,” he said. By his actions, Erdogan shows that it is Ankara who decides the issue of the accession of Sweden and Finland, the journalist believes. “He demonstrates that the conductor’s baton is still in his hands,” he said.
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Silver called Erdogan’s statement dictated by domestic political reasons, as Turkey is facing presidential elections in 2023.
“On the last day of the summit, Erdogan made it clear that he demanded that Sweden and Finland fulfill the promises they made in the agreement if Turkey is going to lift the veto against Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO,” the journalist said.
On June 29, NATO announced that it had reached an agreement with Turkey to admit Sweden and Finland to the alliance.
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