The Turkish parliament ratifies Sweden's membership in NATO

2024-01-24 08:38:38, Kosova & Bota CNA

Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday approved Sweden's membership in NATO, removing a major obstacle to the previously non-aligned country's entry into the military alliance.

Lawmakers ratified Sweden's accession protocol with 287 votes in favor, 55 against and four abstentions. The ratification will enter into force after publication in the Official Gazette, which is expected soon. Meanwhile, the only obstacle for Sweden remains Hungary.

NATO member Turkey delayed Sweden's membership for more than a year, accusing it of being too soft on groups that Ankara considers threats to Turkey's security.

Ankara has asked Stockholm for policy changes, including a tougher stance on Kurdish militants and members of a network Turkey blames for a failed coup in 2016.

A series of demonstrations in Sweden by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, as well as Koran-burning protests that rocked Muslim countries, sparked outrage in Turkey.

Last month, the parliament's foreign affairs committee approved Sweden's membership, marking the first stage of the legislative process after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent the membership protocol to parliament.

Last month, arguing in favor of Sweden's membership, Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar highlighted the steps Sweden had taken to meet Turkish demands, including lifting trade restrictions on the defense industry and changing anti-terrorism laws.

Sweden has promised deeper cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism and to support Ankara's ambitions for EU membership.

Turkey's main opposition party also supported Sweden's membership in the alliance, but a center-right and pro-Kurdish party said they would oppose membership.

"Sweden's steps regarding the extradition of wanted criminals or the fight against terrorism have remained limited and insufficient ," said in the Turkish parliament legislator Musavat Dervisoglu, a representative from the Good Party.

President Erdogan has linked the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership to the approval by the US Congress of a Turkish request to buy 40 F-16 fighter jets and other military equipment to modernize Turkey's existing fleet. He has also urged Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes on Turkey.

Meanwhile, Hungary remains the last obstacle to Sweden's NATO membership, accusing Swedish diplomats of "telling lies" about the state of democracy in Hungary.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday that he has sent a letter to his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to visit Budapest for talks about Sweden's membership in the alliance. Membership in NATO requires the approval of all the states of the alliance./ VOA