Sweden, Finland commit to back Türkiye’s anti-terror fight

MADRID

Türkiye agreed on June 28 to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, following the Nordic countries’ commitment to meet concerns of Ankara on the issues of terror and arms export.

Türkiye has agreed to support the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO at the 2022 Madrid Summit, a trilateral memorandum released after a four-way meeting between the parties said on June 28.

Türkiye “got what it wanted” from Sweden and Finland before agreeing to back their aim to join the NATO defense alliance, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office said.

“Türkiye has made significant gains in the fight against terrorist organizations,” presidential sources said.

Erdoğan, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö held a meeting in Madrid to address Türkiye’s objections on the Nordic countries’ membership bids.

A trilateral memorandum that was signed by the participants ensures to meet Türkiye’s demands while paving the way for the Nordic countries’ membership in the alliance.

“Finland and Sweden confirm that the PKK is a proscribed terrorist organization. Finland and Sweden commit to preventing activities of the PKK and all other terrorist organizations and their extensions, as well as activities by individuals in affiliated and inspired groups or networks linked to these terrorist organizations,” the memorandum said.

They agreed to establish a joint, structured dialogue and cooperation mechanism at all levels of government, including between law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to enhance cooperation on counterterrorism, organized crime, and other common challenges as they so decide.

Türkiye, Finland and Sweden has confirmed that now there are no national arms embargoes in place between them, the statement said, adding that Sweden is changing its national regulatory framework for arms exports in relation to NATO Allies.

Finland and Sweden will address Türkiye’s pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly, taking into account information, evidence and intelligence provided by Ankara.

Following the signing ceremony, Stoltenberg said, “I strongly welcome the signing of this trilateral memorandum, and I strongly welcome the constructive approach all three countries have shown during the negotiations.”

He added that the signed memorandum addresses Türkiye’s concerns about arms exports and the fight against terrorism.

For his part, Andersson said: “I think it is good that we reached this agreement for the safety of Sweden and the Swedish people.”

“Our joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden and Türkiye to extend their full support against threats to each other’s security. Us becoming NATO Allies will further strengthen this commitment,” Niinisto said on his Twitter account.

Noting that Finland takes Türkiye’s concerns “seriously,” he said: “Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As a NATO member, Finland will commit fully to the counterterrorism documents and policies of NATO.”

“I am delighted to conclude this stage on Finland’s road to NATO membership. I now look forward to fruitful conversations on Finland’s role in NATO with our future Allies here in Madrid,” he added.

Türkiye to reapply for extradition of terrorists from Sweden, Finland

Türkiye will remind Sweden and Finland of its application for the extradition of some terrorists, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ has said, following a three-way agreement that stipulates the Nordic states to support Türkiye’s fight against terror and cooperate for the extradition of demanded terror suspects.

“There are pending applications for six PKK and six FETO members in Finland and for 10 FETO and 11 PKK members in Sweden. We will remind and renew our application for their extraditions,” Bozdağ told reporters in Ankara on June 29. “There is no need to send new dossiers for the extradition but we will ask them to fulfill their promises.”

An article of the memorandum of understanding is devoted to Türkiye’s extradition requests as it reads: “Finland and Sweden will address Türkiye’s pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly, taking into account information, evidence and intelligence provided by Türkiye, and establish necessary bilateral legal frameworks to facilitate extradition and security cooperation with Türkiye, in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition.”

“This memorandum of understanding is very important as it displays how the will Türkiye has put forward in foreign policy yields results,” Bozdağ said. It is also important because the YPG, PYD and FETÖ are mentioned in an official document as terror organizations for the first time, the minister suggested.

“Türkiye is also determined to follow up the issues included in this agreement in the coming period,” he noted, adding the establishment of a three-way committee to ensure the implementation of the agreement is also very significant.

“This memorandum of understanding does not mean that the admission process [to NATO] is complete. There are certain procedures ahead. Türkiye will continue to follow the implementation [of the agreement],” the minister said.