JABAR EKSPRES – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday held a telephone conversation on the latest developments in Russia and Sweden’s membership in NATO, according to a statement by Turkey’s Communications Directorate.
During the conversation, it was pointed out that the end of tensions in Russia “prevented the occurrence of an irrevocable human tragedy on the territory of Ukraine,” the statement said.
It was conveyed to Stoltenberg that Turkey hopes the latest developments in Russia will be “a new milestone towards a just peace in Ukraine,” the statement continued.
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The statement also stressed that “Turkey maintains its constructive stance on Sweden’s membership but amendments to legislation will be meaningless as long as PKK/PYD/YPG supporters organize demonstrations freely in the country.”
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During its 35-plus year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union – is responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and babies.
Turkish officials said that Sweden tolerates and even supports PKK members on its territory, and that steps taken to change this need to be proven before it can join the alliance.
Furthermore, it was underlined that “the injustice faced in the context of the F-35 and the attempt to link Turkey’s request for F-16s with Sweden’s membership will harm NATO and its security rather than Turkey.”
Earlier, the Wagner paramilitary group accused Russian forces on Friday (June 23) of attacking its fighters, leading the group to cross from Ukraine into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
In response, the Federal Security Service in Russia filed criminal charges against Wagner for “armed rebellion.” Russian President Vladimir Putin called Wagner’s rebellion an act of “treason.”