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Added on the 25/01/2023 10:16:41 - Copyright : Euronews EN
Finland, and its neighbour Sweden, applied to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked security concerns.
Ankara says Finland's NATO bid is "less problematic" than Sweden's after Turkey accused the government in Stockholm of enabling groups it deems as terror organisations. But Finland's FM says it is important for both countries to join the alliance at the same time.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says for the first time that Ankara could accept Finland into NATO without its Nordic neighbour Sweden. Erdogan's comments come days after Ankara suspended NATO accession talks with the two countries over Sweden's refusal to extradite Kurds Turkey considers to be terrorists.
Following Turkish outrage at a pro-Kurd demonstration in Sweden, Finland said it might consider decoupling its NATO application from its Nordic neighbour.
"About the NATO membership, we have to take it calmly and we have to wait for the elections in Turkey to take place" says Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. The comment comes after the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto announced Finland has to consider joining NATO without Sweden, whose bid appears to grind to a halt after Ankara blasted Stockholm over anti-Turkey protests. "Keep your watch on the ball but don’t be a ball yourself," adds Niinisto. SOUNDBITE
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