“The process of sending Sweden’s NATO membership protocol to the parliament and the process of its approval is directly related to Sweden’s fulfillment of its obligations. The decision will have to be made by the parliament, how much it will be discussed in commissions, how long this process will take, we do not know. First of all, Sweden has to control the streets of Stockholm. If they [the Swedish authorities] do not do this, if the attacks on our holy shrine (the Qur’an) continue, then they should not be offended [that Turkey does not approve its NATO bid],” Russian TASS news agency quoted Erdogan as saying.
Turkey agreed to lift its veto on Sweden’s NATO membership after Erdogan held consultations with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and European Council President Charles Michel ahead of the organization’s July 11-12 summit in Vilnius.
Stockholm promised not to support organizations declared terrorists by Ankara and to give it all possible support in the EU accession issue.
Relations between Turkey and Sweden have been strained recently over a series of Qur’an-burning rallies in Stockholm. Turkish lawmakers are expected to discuss Stockholm’s NATO bid in October when parliament resumes work after the holidays.
MP/PR