Sweden intends to address Turkey's worries over NATO membership, says FM Ann Linde

Sweden intends to dress Turkey's worries over Stockholm's NATO membership ambition in a constructive manner, according to country's foreign minister. Ann Linde, who presented parliamentarians with a document on Swedish foreign policy, stated that her country would contribute to Turkish security as part of alliance's solidarity.

Linde stated that Sweden would maintain a positive attitude in dealing with Ankara's concerns. Ankara has stated repeatedly that it will not allow ascension process to go if terror affiliates are free to move around Scandinavian country. She condemned terrorism and stated that country's new terror law would take effect on July 1 and that her country might change criteria for arms shipments in order to meet NATO's requirements.

Opposition criticises Linde citing ruling party's pact with terror group

Linde was criticised by Christian Democratic Party MP Mikael Oscarsson, who cited a supposed pact between Swedish Social Democratic Party and Amineh Kakabaveh, an independent member of parliament who supports PKK terror group and its Syrian affiliate YPG. Oscarsson questioned how negotiations with Turkey could continue while an agreement with Kakabaveh h alrey been reached, referring to lawmaker as a "political savage."

Linde, for her part, slammed Oscarsson's language, calling it insulting and emphasising that negotiations with Ankara to establish common ground are still ongoing. Sweden is being pressured by Turkey to halt its backing for PKK/YPG terror group if it wants to join NATO, with Ankara claiming that organisation is a security alliance and that any potential members must take a firm stand against terrorism.

Over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants, have died as a result of PKK's more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, United States, and European Union. YPG is a Syrian spinoff of PKK terror organisation.

'NATO is a security organisation, not a terrorist organisation'

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on June 8 that Turkey will not accept terrorist leers into NATO as long as ir comments are brocast on Swedish public television. Erdogan restated Turkey's opposition to Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO.

Erdogan stated, "NATO is a security organisation, not a terrorist organisation. Turkey cannot support Sweden's NATO bid while its state television brocasts interviews of terrorist leers, and same goes for Finland."

Image: AP