In a meeting with Erdogan in Ankara, Sweden’s new Prime Minister, Kristersson, pledged that his government would fight “against terrorism and terrorist organizations like the PKK.”
Sweden wants to tighten its anti-terrorist laws by amending the constitution, meeting Turkey halfway in a dispute over the conditions for the Scandinavian kingdom’s entry into NATO. As the Swedish parliament explained on Tuesday, November 9, the corresponding changes will allow “limiting the freedom of assembly of groups involved in terrorism.”
It is expected that the vote on this issue will take place on 16 November. If Riksdag representatives support the necessary amendments, the tightened version of the anti-terrorism law, which has been in force in its current form since July, will come into effect on January 1, 2023. As experts explain, it will be more it is easy for Sweden to initiate cases against members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which is banned in Turkey.
By changing its anti-terrorism law, Sweden will fulfill one of Ankara’s main demands and the conditions under which Turkey made its decision to support Sweden’s application to join NATO. Earlier, Turkey called the kingdom “a haven for terrorists.”
Ulf Kristersson’s visit to Turkey
The new Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, during his visit to Turkey on November 8, also emphasized that his country intends to fight tougher crime and terrorism.
“A few weeks ago, my government was elected with a mandate to ensure the primacy of law and order. This includes the fight against terrorism and terrorist organizations like the PKK,” Kristersson said at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Therefore, I want to assure all Turks: Sweden will fulfill all its obligations to Turkey in protecting against terrorist threats, before joining NATO and in the future role of an ally.”
As for Erdogan, he said he “sincerely” wants Sweden and Finland to join NATO, but hopes, with all the understanding of Stockholm’s security concerns, for an appropriate response to Ankara’s security concerns.
Erdogan also said that his next meeting with the Swedish prime minister is scheduled for the end of November. It will take place in Stockholm.
Source: DW
Earlier, Erdogan said he did not believe that Finland and Sweden had fulfilled his NATO conditions.
It will be recalled that NATO said that only two NATO countries did not approve the entry of Finland and Sweden into the Alliance – these are Hungary and Turkey.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.