The long-serving diplomat was surprised by Turkey’s negative attitude towards Finland’s NATO membership: “Suddenly, such a lightning flashed from the very clear sky.”
Finland and Sweden are only an intermediary for Turkey and the real goal of the Turkish protests is beyond the Atlantic, says Minister Jaakko Iloniemi In an interview with Yle Ykkösaamun.
According to Iloniemi, who has had a long diplomatic career, the comments made by Turkey against Finland’s and Sweden’s membership in NATO should be treated calmly, as they are “splashes that come.”
“We are an intermediary here now, and the real goal is much further away, I think it is beyond the Atlantic,” Iloniemi told Yle.
In recent days, Turkey has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden, citing, among other things, the fact that the countries are hosting Kurdish terrorists.
Iloniemi estimates that a very sharp attitude towards Turkey is not expected from the United States.
“We have to remember that Turkey is a very important ally for the United States, and therefore the United States cannot be very strong about Turkey,” Iloniemi said.
Turkey The negative attitude towards Finland’s NATO membership was a surprise to Iloniemi, as relations between Finland and Turkey have been good.
“We had high-level contacts with Turkey very recently and then it was said that everything is fine. Now suddenly such a lightning flashed from the very clear sky, ”Iloniemi described.
Speaking about possible concessions to Turkey, Iloniemi estimates that flexibility in arms export restrictions is clearly more likely than, for example, the extradition of persons requested by Turkey to Turkey.
Finland and Sweden have complied with the arms embargo on Turkey since 2019 due to Turkey’s hostilities in northern Syria.
“The surrender of people is a great matter of principle and it is not appropriate to give up. There is more discretion in arms exports, ”Iloniemi said.
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