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Added on the 16/05/2022 17:45:55 - Copyright : AFP EN
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
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg calls on Ankara to drop its opposition to Sweden's bid to join the defence alliance, saying Stockholm has addressed Turkey's security concerns and "fulfilled its obligations". Turkey has dragged its feet over admitting Sweden into the alliance, with President Erdogan accusing the country of being a haven for "terrorists", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies. Stoltenberg explains that Sweden has progressed in "stepping up counter-terrorism cooperation, including against the PKK." SOUNDBITE
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says he would visit Ankara "in the near future" to push Sweden's membership bid, following the re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Exactly when is not yet decided," the US-led defence alliance's Secretary General adds. SOUNDBITE
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcome Turkey's decision to push ahead with ratifying Finland's membership, and says Sweden should also be allowed to join as soon as possible. "The most important thing is that both Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time," Stoltenberg said. SOUNDBITE
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says "the time has come to ratify both Finland and Sweden and to make them full members of our alliance " during a press conference in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. SOUNDBITE
Poland's parliament votes to ratify Sweden and Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as the US-led defence alliance reassesses its capabilities in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The votes for Sweden and Finland both pass, and lawmakers greet both votes with a standing ovation. IMAGES