NATO’s secretary general said on Monday it is important for Sweden and Finland to join “as soon as possible”, but it is not intended “that they join at the same time”, changing the discourse on the matter.
Speaking at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters, in Brussels (Belgium), after a meeting with Finland’s defense and foreign ministers, Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Turkey’s decision to “proceed with ratification” of Finland’s accession, and of Hungary which “will carry out the Finnish ratification next week”.
“It will be a pleasure to welcome you as a member next time”added the secretary general of the military alliance.
The ‘elephant in the room’ remains Ankara’s refusal to ratify Stockholm’s accession, while there are no guarantees that Sweden will comply with Turkey’s demands, namely the extradition of 120 Kurdish resistance fighters, whom Erdogan has labeled ‘terrorists’ were labeled.
In this regard, Stoltenberg underlined that NATO member states “invited Sweden and Finland at the same time” last year.
“We want [a Finlândia e a Suécia] join as soon as possible, but it is not a condition that they join at the same time”completed.
Until now, the NATO Secretary General had simultaneously called for ratification of the accession agreements, but in view of the impositions imposed by Ankara, Jens Stoltenberg dropped this claim and focused on progress in Finland’s accession process.
However, the official recalled that the two countries have already enjoyed special protection from NATO countries since they became candidates.
Source: DN
