NATO | NATO talks with Turkey continue today in Brussels – Haavisto: Finland has no high expectations

On the NATO issue official-level talks between Finland, Sweden and Turkey will continue on Monday, said the Office of the President of the Republic On Twitter on Sunday.

Discussions will take place in Brussels, hosted by the NATO Secretariat.

Finland and Sweden applied for membership in May, but the process has not been able to move forward due to Turkish opposition. Turkey has repeatedly expressed its opposition to Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership.

Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) commented on the discussions on arrival at the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg. According to Haavisto, Finland does not have high expectations for the meeting.

“But it is important that the meeting is arranged and there is an opportunity to discuss. I also think it is important that NATO organizes this meeting and is involved in these discussions, ”Haavisto said comments to Swedish journalists in Luxembourg.

Haavisto also emphasized the importance of patience in clarifying the situation.

Swedish media reported already on fridaythat representatives of Finland, Sweden and Turkey will discuss the NATO Secretary General on Monday Jens Stoltenberg invitation. A NATO representative told the news agency TT and the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation SVTto.

According to a NATO representative, the security concerns raised in Turkey will be addressed in the negotiations in order for Finland and Sweden to move forward on the application for membership.

Turkey has accused Sweden and Finland of, among other things, hiding suspected members of the PKK. The EU defines the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Turkey has made a series of requirements a condition for accepting Swedish and Finnish NATO applications.

Turkey has also threatened to be ready to postpone Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership for up to a year if it is not reassured that the two northern countries are ready to discuss relations with Kurdish groups, he said. Guardianmagazine last Tuesday.