NATO | Turkish President Erdoğan and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg discuss NATO and Swedish applications

Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on Friday by telephone with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Finland’s and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership, according to Reuters.

Erdoğan said in a call that Turkey’s security concerns regarding Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO applications are “legitimate and fair,” the Turkish presidential office said on Reuters on Friday.

“Both countries should make it clear that they have stopped supporting terrorism, lifted sanctions against Turkey and are ready to show solidarity between allies,” Erdoğan had told Stoltenberg, according to Reuters.

Turkey has insistedthat Finland and Sweden should lift arms export restrictions on Turkey if they want to become members of NATO. In addition, Sweden and Finland should take concrete action against organizations that Turkey considers to be terrorist groups and a security threat to its country.

An Erdoğan spokesman said earlier on Friday that the progress of Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO applications depends on the countries’ response to Turkey’s demands.

The Finnish and Swedish delegations were in Ankara last week and discussions are under way with the Foreign Minister Pekka Haaviston (green) ready to continue. Naton Stoltenberg said Wednesday to gather in Brussels in the next few days to negotiate with the High Representatives from Finland, Sweden and Turkey. However, the exact date has not yet been announced to the public.

Read more: Stoltenberg: Finland, Sweden and Turkey will hold talks in Brussels in the coming days

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