Turkey to start ratification of Finland's membership to NATO

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Mar 2023 20:22

Turkey's Erdogan said that the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO will depend on Stockholm's future actions.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto shake hands during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey 17 March, 2023 (Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)

At a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Ankara on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the ratification of Finland's membership to join NATO is likely to be completed before the Turkish presidential elections are due on May 14.

"We were forced to consider Finland's application separately, since there are no such manifestations of terrorism there as there are in Sweden... I have sent a note to the parliamentary commission, from there it will be forwarded to the General Assembly. I hope that the [ratification] process will be completed before the elections," Erdogan said.

On another note, Erdogan said that the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO will depend on Stockholm's future actions.

"We will continue our dialogue with Sweden based on the principles of the alliance and our approach to the fight against terrorism. Everything will depend on further steps taken by Stockholm," Erdogan noted.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the start of the ratification of Finland's accession to NATO by the Turkish parliament is an important step for the country, but it will not be complete without Sweden's membership in the bloc.

"It is very good to hear these news ... The Turkish parliament starts to work with the ratification of Finnish membership ... But we have a neighbor, Sweden. What I now say is not only due to the fact that they are nice people and we have excellent relations with our neighbor. But I have a feeling that Finnish NATO membership is not complete without Sweden, we have so much common interest," Niinisto said at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara.

The Turkish leader has accused the Nordic neighbors of breaking the terms of a separate deal they reached in June 2022 under which Turkey agreed to approve the bids.

One request vs. a long list of conditions
While #Turkey had a long list of conditions from #Finland and #Sweden, all the two Nordic states wanted was to join #NATO.
Here's your guide to understanding on what basis the agreement was made. pic.twitter.com/Aw7Jtu7frp
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 28, 2022

Ankara suspended negotiations with Sweden in outrage following rallies attacking the Turkish leadership in Stockholm and the burning of the holy Quran outside Turkey's embassy, but the talks resumed in Brussels on March 9.

Turkey has opposed the bids, accusing Sweden in particular of providing a safe haven for what it considers "terrorists", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Erdogan announced in January that he was happy with the progress Finland was making and was ready to put its ratification before parliament.

Earlier this month, the Parliament of Finland said it moved a step ahead of Sweden in the bid to obtain a full-membership status in the NATO alliance, AFP reported.

This comes as an immense stabbing in the back of Sweden, as just ten days prior, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said that Finland still wants to join NATO with Sweden, noting that "We have sent a very clear signal and a very clear message to Turkey and also to Hungary... that we want to enter NATO together and this is in the interest of everyone."

AFP stated that Finland faces fewer diplomatic challenges than Sweden.

Moreover, Finland is scheduled to hold elections in April. Therefore to avoid public opinion influencing membership, Finland will rush to effect that ascension before the start of the elections.