ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hungary’s parliament on Monday ratified Finland’s bid to join NATO months after delay. Turkey is yet to finalise the ratification of the Scandinavian country's ascension to the military alliance.
Sweden and Finland made a joint bid to join NATO a year ago after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, Ankara raised objections, accusing the Nordic countries of supporting groups Turkey labels as terrorists, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Hungary has also complained that both countries had unfairly criticised its government’s policy.
The Hungarian parliament convened on Monday to make a final decision on Finland’s NATO bid. Six parliamentarians voted against the proposal but 182 others voted yes. No lawmaker abstained, reported Telex news outlet.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 17 that his country would start the necessary protocols to ratify Finland’s accession into NATO. The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs’ commission has approved the bid. The legislature has to approve the bill before it closes next month as general elections take place on May 14.
Ankara, Stockholm and Helsinki signed a memorandum in June 2022 to address Turkey’s concerns, including extraditing alleged PKK members. Sweden deported a Kurdish refugee to Turkey in December for suspected links to the PKK.
While Turkey has now signalled it will approve Finland’s bid, Sweden is still waiting for a green light and Erdogan has said he expects more from Stockholm.
Sweden and Finland made a joint bid to join NATO a year ago after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, Ankara raised objections, accusing the Nordic countries of supporting groups Turkey labels as terrorists, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Hungary has also complained that both countries had unfairly criticised its government’s policy.
The Hungarian parliament convened on Monday to make a final decision on Finland’s NATO bid. Six parliamentarians voted against the proposal but 182 others voted yes. No lawmaker abstained, reported Telex news outlet.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 17 that his country would start the necessary protocols to ratify Finland’s accession into NATO. The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs’ commission has approved the bid. The legislature has to approve the bill before it closes next month as general elections take place on May 14.
Ankara, Stockholm and Helsinki signed a memorandum in June 2022 to address Turkey’s concerns, including extraditing alleged PKK members. Sweden deported a Kurdish refugee to Turkey in December for suspected links to the PKK.
While Turkey has now signalled it will approve Finland’s bid, Sweden is still waiting for a green light and Erdogan has said he expects more from Stockholm.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment