Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Sweden has not yet fulfilled its promises to Ankara regarding Stockholm’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. The Turkish politician said this at a press conference in Istanbul before flying to the United States for the UN General Assembly.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revealed that Sweden has so far failed to fulfil binding provisions to Ankara for its accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. The Turkish president emphasised that it is not enough for Turkey that the Swedish government has prepared a bill. According to the politician, it needs to be applied as sacrileges continue to be committed on the streets of the Kingdom.
“The West says time and again: Sweden, Sweden, Sweden. We say that until our parliament makes a judgement, we cannot say yes or no (to Sweden’s membership in NATO – ed.). First of all, Sweden must fulfil its commitments. Do they fulfil them (commitments – ed.)? We are told that they have prepared a law. But it is not enough to pass a law, it is necessary to apply it… Terrorist actions on the streets of Stockholm continue. The promises made to us have not been kept,” the Turkish president said.
The Turkish President emphasised that the decision on Sweden’s admission to NATO will be made by the Turkish Parliament. The politician drew parallels with the fact that the United States appeals to Congress in the context of the sale of F-16 aircraft to Ankara.
“What position my parliament will take, let them watch. They (the US – ed.) say that on the issue of F-16s the decision is up to Congress. I also have my congress – parliament. If they want us to put the issue (of Sweden’s NATO membership – ed.) before parliament, we will, but the decision will be up to parliament,” Erdogan summarised.