Türkiye stands firm on measures against terrorism before Sweden joins NATO

President Erdogan says that regardless of Ankara’s warnings, Sweden has taken no motion to extradite almost 130 terrorists or cease PKK/PYD terror teams’ demonstrations in Stockholm.

“Despite our warnings, unfortunately, there was no action on stopping PKK/PYD demonstrations,” the president stated, mentioning insufficient measures in opposition to terrorism by Sweden.
(AA)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stood agency on Ankara’s demand for Sweden to extradite terrorists to Türkiye earlier than the Nordic nation might be a part of the NATO safety alliance.

“We’ve told them (Sweden), ‘Look, if you don’t extradite the terrorists you have, then we can’t ratify this (NATO membership) in our parliament’,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a youth meeting on Sunday.

Erdogan was referring to Sweden and Finland’s pledges last June to take a firm stance against terrorism in order to gain NATO membership.

“First of all, they need to extradite nearly 130 terrorists in order for their bids to pass our parliament, (but) unfortunately, they have yet to do this,” he added, talking in Mugla province in southwestern Türkiye.

Erdogan added that PKK demonstrators are sometimes seen on the streets of the capital Stockholm. He stated that Ankara has repeatedly warned Stockholm in regards to the state of affairs.

“Despite our warnings, unfortunately, there was no action on stopping PKK/PYD demonstrations.”

“If they do not take a stand against this situation in Sweden, it could make tension in our ties grow even more,” he added.

On terror record

Even although the PKK is on the official European Union record of terrorist teams, Erdogan stated they’re additionally seen in Germany, France and the UK.

“We will determine our attitude towards them accordingly,” he pressured in his speech.

In its greater than 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been accountable for the deaths of over 40,000 folks, together with girls, kids, and infants. The YPG/PYD is its Syrian department.

Under a June memorandum between Türkiye, Sweden, and Finland, the 2 Nordic nations pledged to take steps in opposition to terrorists with a purpose to acquire membership within the NATO alliance, which they’re in search of in mild of the close by Russia-Ukraine warfare.

Unanimous settlement from all NATO members – together with Türkiye, a member for greater than 70 years – is required for any new members to be admitted to the alliance.

Türkiye has praised some steps taken by Sweden and Finland however says the nations must do extra, significantly within the wake of latest demonstrations final week in Stockholm, which reportedly threatened immediately the Turkish chief.