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Added on the 15/05/2022 19:12:44 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto meets with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm, as the two Nordic neighbours prepare a bid for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. Both nations, which have traditionally remained non-aligned in military matters, have reconsidered their positions on the US-led defence grouping after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. IMAGES
The Prime Minsster of Finland, Sanna Marin, confirms in a press conference that a report on the case for Finland making an application to NATO will be heard in parliament after the Easter break and that she expects a decision to be made within the "upcoming weeks". SOUNDBITE
Magdalena Andersson walks into the Swedish Parliament before being elected as Swedish Prime Minister for the second time. She's the first woman to hold the post, five days after her first bid lasted only hours. The 54-year-old will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Stefan Lofven after a total of 101 members of parliament voted for her, while 75 abstained and 173 voted against. IMAGES
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Turkey should approve Sweden's stalled bid for membership "as soon as possible". "Sweden has delivered on what they promised and now the time has come for Turkiye to finalise the accession process," Stoltenberg tells a press conference in Brussels. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members to not yet have ratified Sweden joining the alliance over 18 months after it applied for membership. SOUNDBITE
The United States welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's submission to parliament of Sweden's NATO membership and hopes for approval as soon as possible. "We welcome that step," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters, voicing hope that the bill "will be considered in the Turkish parliament and passed as soon as possible." SOUNDBITE
U.S. President Barack Obama attends an outdoor arrival ceremony in heavy rain, as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).