Turkish Presidency: We currently do not have a positive position on the issue of Sweden and Finland (joining NATO)

[SD 10]

So does it need unanimous vote?

 

[Gripen9]

So does it need unanimous vote?

yes

 

[UKBengali]

What price is Turkey likely to ask for in order to allow Sweden to join apart from not supporting PKK?

 

[KediKesenFare3]

What price is Turkey likely to ask for in order to allow Sweden to join apart from not supporting PKK?

I don't know but there are countless ideas on the table:

• modernization of the EU-Turkish customs union
• handing over our F35s and reparticipation of Turkish companies in the respective program
• lifting of all sanctions related to the Turkish defense industry
• support for Turkey's intervention in Syria/establishing a safe zone for refugees within the borders of Syria
• recognition of Northern Cyprus or, at the very least, lifting of all trade related sanctions currently in place
• taking long-lasting and real actions against PKK
• public support for the internationally recognized government of Libya
• forcing Greece to demilitarize islands close to Turkish shores
• accepting Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabakh
• etc.

Well, one thing's for sure: it is going to cost the Europeans dearly. This is not a decision that should be simply shrugged off by Turkey. We're going to live with the consequences until the day NATO ceases to exist. Some serious negotiations between Europe and Turkey need to take place before any step is taken.

 

[Trango Towers]

In order to accept a new member in NATO, all the current members have to agree. Even one member not agreeing means they cannot become NATO member. So Turkey can block any new entry to NATO if they wish.

Isn't it great ti weird the power of veto

 

[KediKesenFare3]

U.S. says working to clarify Turkey's position on Sweden, Finland NATO bid

The United States is working to clarify Turkey's position on Sweden and Finland's potential membership to NATO, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe at the State Department said on Friday after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is not supportive of the two countries' bid to join the alliance.

www.reuters.com

 

[Wergeland]

Longstanding NATO member Turkiye is following the discussion over Finland and Sweden seeking to join the alliance, but for now does not have a positive view, said the nation’s president on Friday.

"We are currently following developments. We currently do not have a positive position on the issue of Sweden and Finland (joining NATO)," Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayer in Istanbul.

Saying that those "Scandinavian countries are like terrorist groups guesthouses," Erdogan added: "There are supporters of terrorism in parliament. We cannot be positive towards this."

In July 2020, Turkiye slammed a video meeting between Sweden’s foreign minister and members of the terrorist group YPG/PKK, the Syrian branch of the PKK. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the incident “raises serious question marks about Sweden's approach to combating terrorism as a matter of priority."

Under NATO rules, any decision on enlargement must be made “by unanimous agreement,” effectively giving Turkiye the power to veto any new members.

'For now, Turkiye's view on Finland, Sweden joining NATO not positive': President Erdogan

YPG/PKK is a terror group, Turkiye cannot accept US lifting sanctions in Syria's YPG-held regions, says Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Anadolu Agency

www.aa.com.tr

Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO​

Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday it was not possible for NATO-member Turkey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact given that the Nordic countries were "home to many terrorist organisations".

www.reuters.com

Erdogan says Turkey doesn’t support Sweden, Finland joining NATO​

Erdogan says Turkey doesn't support Sweden, Finland joining NATO

NATO ascension for a new member state requires consensus approval from all existing members.

www.cnbc.com

When I wrote this here about 2 months ago, some so-called experts had the opposite opinion. Unless Turkey receives solid and written assurances, it will not repeat the same mistake (such about Greece) it made before.

Not being particularly knowledgeable about Turkish politics, I assume this is something Erdogan means seriously. Or is he using it as a bargaining chip?

If Sweden and Finland refuse to do anything about ethnic kurdish citizens who support PKK, will Turkey really refuse to accept their accession into NATO?

In order to accept a new member in NATO, all the current members have to agree. Even one member not agreeing means they cannot become NATO member. So Turkey can block any new entry to NATO if they wish.

Question is if USA tightens the screws, will countries like Hungary and Turkey really have a choice?

 

[Wergeland]

Yes, I would also like to add that those who are uncomfortable with Turkey's presence in NATO are free to leave the union. Because technically, it is possible for a country to leave union only by its own will.

NATO was perfect as it was before expansion into former Soviet sphere. It should not expand anymore.

 

[MeFishToo]

Him not having a positive view doesnt mean Turkey is going to veto Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Turkey is trying to please relations with Russia while being part of NATO. Its not easy. A semi dictatorship being part of NATO is always going to be problem.

 

[Broccoli]

Turkish foreign minister told that Turkey doesn't oppose Finlands NATO membership and Erdogans comment was against Sweden.

IL:n tiedot: Turkin ulkoministeri on kertonut Suomelle, että maan epäilyt koskevat Ruotsin Nato-jäsenyyttä, eivät Suomen

Turkin ulkoministeri Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on kertonut Suomen valtionjohdolle, että maan julkisuudessa esittämät epäilyt eivät koske Suomen Nato-jäsenyyttä.

www.iltalehti.fi

 

[MeFishToo]

Turkey is using this situation for some political reason. They‘ve already made positive confirmation when adressed by Finland and Sweden before they went public with joining NATO. This is Erdogan exploting the situation gaining some points. Maybe we all should leave NATO and form a new alliance excluding Turkey. It sure would make everything less complicated.

 

[dBSPL]

Although Finland does not directly recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization, it is among the countries that recognize it as a terrorist organization due to EU decisions. Except for some individual PKK/PYD support, the country does not give open support directly. There is only one step the Finnish parliament has to take to join NATO.

*

BUT Sweden is among the biggest supporters of PKK/PYD and anti-Turkey projects. There has been distrust between Sweden and Turkey for many years due to their support policies for the PKK and its Syrian extension PYD/YPG. The politicians in Sweden, the proposals to remove the PKK from the EU list of terrorist organizations, the increasing activities of the PKK in Sweden, the support of personnel and financing efforts and the open support of the ministers have caused great wounds between the two countries. Sweden, which became the final destination of the PKK supporters due to the magazines Kurmanji and Sorani published by the Kurdish diaspora in the 1980s, which are established by PKK. The Swedish judiciary never considers extraditions requests. It is one of the few countries within the EU region that has become a safe haven for terrorists.

The support given to the PKK for many years continues with support to the PYD-YPG. The PKK is able to form a mass, manages financing, recruiting militants, lobbying and propaganda activities through culture-language themed associations. Within the scope of its lobbying activities, the PKK is intertwined with political groups, parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sweden. Swedish politicians do not hesitate to openly advocate the PKK's policies.

The Kurdish Businessmen's Association, which was established by the PKK in the Netherlands in 2001 for the purpose of laundering illegal money and drug revenues in EU countries, provides ammunition and logistics support to PKK terror camps, while 8 companies in Sweden are affiliated with KARSAZ, publicly and secretly. It is known that they carries out various illegal activities on behalf of the terrorist organization. Sweden ranks 3rd among EU countries sending foreign terrorist fighters to the PKK/PYD. PKK targets schools in Sweden to recruit militants and sympathizers. This is proven by the 1998 report of the Radda Barnen Foundation, which organizes international child protection programs. Sweden had recently come to the fore with the minister's meetings and statements of support, where they accepted the PYD-YPG terrorists.

Swedish organizations are of great importance for the PKK's Belgium-based EU structure. Among the PKK/PYD-YPG's NGO structures in Sweden; There are the Swedish Kurdish Council and its additional organization, the Swedish Democratic Kurdish Community Centre, the Swedish Kurdish Cultural Association, the Kurdistan Free Life Party, the PYD-Swedish Free Youth Movement, and the Rojava Committee. They openly continues to develop actions involving PYD/PKK propaganda.

PKK/PYD-YPG terrorist elements also receive financial support through their so-called TV channels in EU member countries where they operate through their NGO named "Rojava Solidarity". While it was revealed that approximately 3.5 million Euros were obtained by cutting the salaries of the employees of the so-called TV channels of the terrorist organization in Sweden between 2005 and 2017, there are also restaurants in the selected EU countries that the PKK manages and imposes mandatory "tribute" is known.

Within the media structure of the PKK, which started with the establishment of the Kurdish Media Foundation in Sweden in 1997, 4 media organs, including Aryen TV and Rohani TV, still carry out their activities. Sweden, which has provided 210 million dollars of support to the PYD/YPG so far, is planned to increase this support to 376 million dollars by 2023.

These countries also provide defense support to the PKK/PYD-YPG. The so-called Kurdistan Red Crescent, which is tasked with finding financial resources for the PKK's NGO structures, especially for the organization's extensions in Turkey, Iraq and Syria, operates in Sweden and is estimated to collect 50 million Euros annually under the name of donations in European countries.

***

In the face of this legitimate demand of Turkey, it is possible to see the typical European populism and orientalist arrogance, which cannot say a word to their country's supporter of terrorism, even under this title.

 

[Oublious]

Thats the spirit, they want to ambargo Turkey you can do what you want Sweden . Ther is nothing to ambargo us and we can not put ambargo on to you because we don't share much. Thats why you have played like this for years helping the pkk. You want to put Americans and EU so they could force Turkey but that wont work Sweden. You spent 300 million dollar on ypg in syria but didn't give almost nothing to Ukrain.

You are helping Russia why?

 

[dBSPL]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1525392166331240450

So...

 

[MeFishToo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1525392166331240450

So...

This is how democracies work. Different opinions are voiced and the majority rules. The Left Party arguments shouldnt matter to anyone but swedes.
But then again, if youre from a country where the opposition is being harased and sentenced to jail, you wouldnt understand.
I doubt Turkey would be able to fulfill the NATO requirements if they were to apply today.