Stoltenberg: Finland will join NATO tomorrow – Breaking News
COMPLETED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR
Right after the Madrid Summit held in June 2022, most of the NATO countries started the approval process for the membership of the two countries. 20 NATO countries completed the ratification process in their parliaments in July, 4 in August, and 4 in September.
Finally, on 27 March, the Hungarian Parliament approved Finland’s membership. The approval in the Turkish Grand National Assembly was also obtained on 30 March. Thus, Finland’s NATO membership process was completed in less than a year, making it one of the fastest progressing membership processes in the Alliance’s 74-year history.
FINLAND FLAG WILL BE RAISED TO NATO HEADQUARTERS
On the other hand, due to Finland’s membership, a ceremony will be held at NATO headquarters tomorrow at 15.30 Brussels time. At the ceremony, the Finnish flag will take its place among the flags of the allied countries at the entrance of NATO headquarters.
Thus, Finland will join the alliance as the 31st member on the day of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting and will take its place in all military and civilian structures of NATO.
SWEDEN STATEMENT FROM STOLTENBERG
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that fighting the terrorist organization PKK will also help Sweden’s «fight against organized crime that continues on its streets» and added: «We know that there is a close link between these terrorist organizations and drug trafficking and organized crime in a country like Sweden.» said.
Answering the question whether Sweden has inculcated the Swedish government on NATO membership, Stoltenberg said that this country fulfilled the commitments it made by signing the Trilateral Memorandum with Finland and Turkey at the NATO Madrid Summit in June 2022.
Stoltenberg stated that in his meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and in public meetings, he expressed that his position is to approve Sweden’s membership.
Reminding that they also agreed to restart talks on Sweden’s membership in their last meeting with Erdoğan, Stoltenberg stated that they would support the work of the current consultation mechanism and continued as follows:
«Yes, Turkey has legitimate security concerns and all allies should address it. These concerns are important to us as well. I welcome the agreement of Sweden and Finland to increase cooperation with Turkey. Sweden passed a stronger anti-terrorism law. Intelligence sharing. Sweden has lifted arms export restrictions. If Sweden and Turkey work more closely in the fight against terrorism, it will help Turkey fight the PKK, which is seen as a terrorist organization not only by itself, but also by Sweden, Finland, NATO allies and the EU.
Of course, we are working together in the fight against this terrorist organization. This will also help Sweden’s fight against the organized crime that continues on its streets. Because we know that there is a close link between these terrorist organizations and drug trafficking and organized crime in a country like Sweden. I sincerely believe that we have common interests in approaching these issues. By exhibiting this (the struggle), we can ensure that Sweden becomes a full member in the near future.»
Stoltenberg also noted that he believes that Sweden will become a NATO member, that this is among his priorities and that he will continue to work for Sweden’s membership.
SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE’S PEACE PLAN
Providing information about the two-day NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting that will start tomorrow, Stoltenberg said that support to Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, will be discussed and that support should continue in the long term.
«We don’t know when this war will end.» Stoltenberg said that when they are finished, they need to put forward regulations that can deter future aggression by Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said, «We cannot allow Russia to tear apart European security. I welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s peace plan, which defends the principles of the UN Charter. This plan provides the basis for a just and sustainable peace. However, there is no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for peace. no sign. Putin is preparing for more wars.» said.
Stoltenberg reported that NATO is united in continuing support for Ukraine.
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Finland’s NATO membership process has been completed in less than a year, making it one of the fastest progressing membership processes in the Alliance’s history. A ceremony will be held at NATO headquarters to raise the Finnish flag among the flags of the allied countries, and Finland will join the alliance as the 31st member on the day of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that fighting the terrorist organization PKK will also help Sweden’s «fight against organized crime that continues on its streets» and expressed support for Sweden’s membership in NATO. Additionally, Stoltenberg announced that support for Ukraine, currently at war with Russia, will be discussed at the two-day NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
