Finnish Parliament votes in favor of joining NATO
The Finnish President believes Finland and Sweden should come to an agreement with Turkey over its objection.
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Finnish parliament votes in favor of joining NATO
The Finnish Parliament voted on Tuesday in favor of joining the NATO alliance.
On Sunday, Finland's President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy completed a report on the country's NATO membership and decided that the country will seek to join the alliance, according to a statement from the Finnish government.
Finland and Sweden have been expected to apply to join NATO and promised it would grant membership quickly, according to diplomats and officials.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö stated that Finland and Sweden should find an agreement with Turkey after Ankara objected to the countries joining NATO.
Turkey would not say "yes" to Finland and Sweden's NATO membership requests, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who added that any attempts to persuade Ankara to modify its attitude would be futile.
Read more: Borrell hopes NATO overcomes Turkey objection to Finland, Sweden
In a speech before the Swedish Parliament, Niinisto stated that Turkey changed its statements quickly, but asserted that he was confident that through discussion, the situation could be resolved.
He explained that he had spoken by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a month ago. He pointed out that initially Erdogan had expressed support for the two's membership, but last week he changed his opinion.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent stated that Niinisto and the Swedish Prime Minister would visit Washington next Thursday at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.
The Finnish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee confirmed its support for the government's position in support of Finland's application for NATO membership, stating that it would enhance the security of the state.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde today signed her country's request to join NATO. Last Saturday, before her talks with her Turkish counterpart at the NATO meeting in Berlin, she asserted that Sweden, like the rest of the EU, considers the PKK a terrorist organization.
