Stoltenberg reiterates to Turkey that it endorses Sweden and Finland in NATO and is open to their entering separately

BRUSELAS, 16 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, stressed this Thursday from Turkey that Sweden and Finland have taken "big steps" towards their entry into NATO and has asked Ankara to unblock the ratification of the accession document, insisting that what is important it is that they enter "as soon as possible" and not so much that they do it jointly.

On a visit to Turkey, where he will meet with the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, days after the strong earthquake that caused the "worst catastrophe in an allied country since the founding of NATO", Stoltenberg stressed that "it is time" that Ankara endorses the adhesion of Swedes and Finns to the organization, pending the green light from Turkey and Hungary.

After the Turkish authorities have indicated that they could process Finland's entry separately, the NATO political chief has conceded that what is relevant is that both candidates enter as soon as possible and not so much that they do so at the same time, despite the fact that Stockholm and Helsinki applied to join NATO at the same time and their process has gone in parallel.

"My position is that both can be ratified now, but the main issue is not whether they are ratified together, but ratification as soon as possible," Stoltenberg said at a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

In any case, he has insisted that it is now in the hands of the Turkish government and parliament to take the necessary steps to allow its integration into the Atlantic alliance. The accession of Stockholm and Helsinki to NATO in the midst of the war in Ukraine is the fastest process in the organization's recent history, although Ankara's veto, citing lack of cooperation in anti-terrorism matters, has delayed the deadlines and now NATO is marking the summit of allied leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania, next July as the date for accession.

On the demonstrations that took place in Sweden against the Turkish blockade and which included the burning of the Koran, the former Norwegian prime minister has condemned these incidents after saying that he "understands" the feelings of Muslims offended by this "provocation".

In any case, he has recalled that not all unpleasant acts are illegal and has claimed that the Swedish government's reaction has been forceful against these incidents and has prohibited protests likely to repeat the offense. In his opinion, this shows that Sweden and Finland understand Turkey's concerns and act accordingly, and he has linked this to the steps already taken in anti-terrorism by both candidates, which in the case of Sweden has even led him to reform its constitution.

For his part, Cavusoglu has acknowledged progress in Turkey's demands for the fight against terrorism but has insisted that "it is unrealistic" to say that Sweden has fulfilled all the conditions. In this sense, he has pointed out that the legislative changes made "are not to make Ankara happy" but to prevent terrorist activities such as propaganda or recruitment of members.

Likewise, he has qualified Stoltenberg's words about the offense represented by the burning of the Muslim holy book, by pointing out that "Islamophobia and racism" goes against Human Rights and represents a hate crime.