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Stoltenberg: NATO meeting in Vilnius, historic

2023-07-11 15:19:25, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that he was "absolutely convinced" that Turkey would ratify Sweden's NATO accession protocol and that alliance leaders would "send a very strong and positive message" about with the desire of Ukraine itself, to become part of it.

Mr Stoltenberg said the NATO meeting in Vilnius "was historic even before it opened", as talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought progress on a months-long stalemate. Mr Erdogan had accused Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on PKK militants, a political party the Turkish government views as extremist.

Mr. Erdogan promised to approve the protocol for Sweden's membership in the Turkish parliament, an example that is expected to be followed by Hungary, which also has not yet given its approval.

The Turkish president linked the issue of Sweden's membership to Ankara's stalled efforts to join the European Union.

" The United States has always supported Turkey's EU membership aspirations and continues to do so ," a Security Council spokesman who asked not to be identified told VOA, a common practice when discussing administration policy. Our attention is focused on Sweden, which is ready to join the alliance ", he added.

President Joe Biden, who will meet with Mr. Erdogan on Tuesday at the end of the first day of NATO work, welcomed the news of Turkey's support for Sweden.

" I am ready to work with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey to increase defense and preventive capacities in the Euro-Atlantic area ," said Mr. Biden in a statement. " I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally ," he added.

The Biden administration has backed Turkey's efforts to buy 40 F-16 fighter jets from the United States, a deal that has run into opposition from US lawmakers who have said Washington should not proceed until Turkey backs the request. of Sweden to become a member of NATO.

Asked Tuesday what prompted Turkey to drop its objection, President Biden responded with a smile: "What do you think?!" Asked if he was surprised by Turkey's decision, Mr. Biden said: "Not at all."

Sweden and Finland jointly applied for membership in May last year, a decision prompted by Russia's attack on Ukraine. Finland's membership was finalized in April.

Defense spending and Ukraine

NATO is expected to discuss other important issues, among which the fulfillment of a commitment to spend at least 2% of the Gross Domestic Product on defense. Currently, only seven member states meet this target.

Another key point is Ukraine's ambition to join NATO. In 2008, the allied countries agreed in principle that such a thing should happen without defining a roadmap for this country's membership.

Mr. Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that during an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in May, he had presented a package that included dropping the request for an action plan for Ukraine's membership.

Mr. Biden has admitted that there is no consensus within the alliance for the admission of Ukraine. The United States is reluctant to fast-track membership for Kiev as it fears a NATO involvement in the war against Russia.

Membership while the war continues would force NATO to implement Article 5 of its treaty, which upholds the principle that "an attack on one country is an attack on all"./ VOA