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Added on the 17/03/2023 17:14:44 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
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
Turkey on Thursday became the final NATO nation to ratify Finland's membership of the US-led defence alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lawmakers unanimously backed the Nordic country's accession two weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly blessed the bid. FRANCE 24's Jasper Mortimer tells us more.
Finland, and its neighbour Sweden, applied to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked security concerns.
"It is encouraging that Turkish President Erdogan has now handed over the ratification protocol to the Turkish Parliament," says Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson. Kristersson was speaking at a press conference following the announcement of President Erdogan officially submitting Sweden's NATO membership application to its national parliament on 23 October. Ankara has accused Sweden of harbouring outlawed Kurdish militants, and has demanded their extradition.
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
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