Erdogan divides Sweden and Finland over NATO membership
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on Wednesday in the Turkish parliament, said that Ankara would refuse Sweden to join NATO, unlike Finland.
“Hey Sweden, don’t try in vain,” TASS quoted Erdogan as saying. “As long as you allow our holy book to be burned, we will not say yes to your NATO membership.”
At the same time, Erdogan said that “Turkey’s view of Finland’s membership in NATO is positive” if Helsinki if Finland “takes an adequate position.”
In Stockholm on January 21, a Koran was burned in front of the Turkish embassy. This action was coordinated with the local authorities and took place under the control of the police. Ankara spoke harshly about such actions.
Later, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, against the backdrop of the burning of the holy book of Muslims and the reaction that followed, announced the suspension of the process of Sweden’s accession to NATO until the summer, when he hopes to reach an agreement with Ankara at the Alliance’s summit in Vilnius.
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