Posted: 05.06.2023 09:31:00

Stoltenberg: Sweden fulfilled its obligations to join NATO

Sweden has already fulfilled all the requirements of Türkiye and has the right to become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance – as stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference following talks with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, TASS reports

photo: www.reuters.com

As Stoltenberg noted, Stockholm has taken concrete steps to join the alliance.

“Sweden has fulfilled its obligations. Specific steps were taken and laws were changed. I acknowledge that the demonstrations in Sweden created difficulties. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression must be protected and respected, but the organisers of these demonstrations are trying to prevent Sweden from joining NATO,” he added.

Stoltenberg also informed that during the negotiations an agreement was reached that the next time Stockholm and Ankara would hold consultations on the issue of Sweden’s membership in the bloc on June 12th. NATO Secretary General added that Türkiye still has time to ratify Sweden's application before the alliance’s summit in Vilnius.