Turkey has agreed to submit the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO to its parliament for ratification

Turkey has agreed to submit the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO to its parliament for ratification. This was announced by NATO representatives after Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on July 10.

NATO emphasizes that Sweden and Turkey actively cooperated during the last summit to address issues of "legitimate security concern to Turkey."

As part of this process, Sweden has amended its constitution, revised its laws, significantly expanded cooperation with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey, and resumed arms exports to Turkey. Thus, Sweden has fulfilled all the conditions set out in the trilateral memorandum signed last year.

"Today, Sweden and Turkey have agreed to continue to cooperate, both within the framework of the Trilateral Permanent Joint Mechanism established at the 2022 NATO Madrid Summit and within the framework of a new bilateral security agreement, which provides for annual ministerial meetings and the establishment of working groups, if necessary," the statement said.

At the first meeting under this treaty, Sweden is to present its plan to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in order to fully implement all elements of the trilateral memorandum.

In addition, Sweden pledged not to provide any support to the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), which was created by the Syrian Kurds.

Sweden has also refused to provide assistance to representatives of the Hizmet movement of Turkish thinker Fethullah Gulen, who is now in the United States. The Turkish authorities officially recognize his Hizmet (Service) movement as a terrorist organization (FETÖ) because of its alleged military coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

"Both Sweden and Turkey agree that cooperation in the fight against terrorism is a long-term endeavor that will continue after Sweden's accession to NATO. Secretary General Stoltenberg also reaffirmed that NATO strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," the statement said.

It was also stated that NATO plans to intensify its work in the field of counter-terrorism, including the creation of a new post of special coordinator for these issues.

"We are committed to the principle that there should be no restrictions, barriers or sanctions on defense trade and investment for Allies. We will work to remove such obstacles," the meeting also stated.