The Turkish president told NATO’s secretary general today that Sweden must stop Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) protests on its territory in order to gain Ankara’s approval to join the organization.
According to a note from the Turkish presidency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Jens Stoltenberg in a phone call that Turkey is taking a constructive stance, but that Sweden’s amendments to anti-terrorism laws to meet Ankara’s demands are “insignificant” as long as PKK supporters are free continue to demonstrate in the country.
The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye, Sweden and the European Union.
Turkey, along with Hungary, is the latest country to block Sweden’s membership of the Atlantic Alliance, accusing it of a lax attitude towards the PKK, the Kurdish guerrilla group operating in Turkey.
Source: DN
