STORY: Türkiye, Sweden agree to hold more talks on NATO bid ahead of summit
DATELINE: June 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:16
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the fourth meeting on a joint permanent mechanism between Türkiye, Finland, Sweden and NATO in Ankara (courtesy of ihlas news agency)
2. various of a former meeting of Türkiye-NATO-Sweden-Finland in Spain
3. various of two photos of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Turkish presidential plane (courtesy of ihlas news agency)
4. various of a former meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Türkiye
5. various of a former meeting of Türkiye-NATO-Sweden-Finland in Spain
6. various of a former council meeting of Türkiye with Sweden in Türkiye

STORYLINE:

Türkiye and Sweden agreed on Wednesday to hold more talks for the latter's NATO bid as the fourth meeting on a joint permanent mechanism between the bloc, Türkiye, Sweden and Finland concluded in Ankara.

At the meeting, which came when Sweden was seeking membership approval at the NATO summit in July, participants evaluated the progress on the Nordic country's commitments for its NATO bid and agreed upon taking subsequent concrete steps, the Turkish presidency said in a statement after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye will only admit Sweden's NATO bid in the upcoming Vilnius summit if the latter takes concrete steps to prevent anti-Türkiye "terror" activities in the country.

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year but faced objections from Türkiye on the grounds that the two countries harbor members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Gulen movement.

Türkiye eventually lifted its objection to Finland earlier this year after it took "concrete steps" against such organizations, and the country went on to become NATO's 31st member in April. But Ankara maintains its veto of Sweden.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)