STORY: Quran-burning raises concern about Sweden's NATO bid: Turkish FM
DATELINE: July 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:06
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the joint press conference of Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in the capital Ankara (courtesy of Turkish Foreign Ministry)
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAKAN FIDAN, Türkiye's Foreign Minister (courtesy of Turkish Foreign Ministry)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): HAKAN FIDAN, Türkiye's Foreign Minister (courtesy of Turkish Foreign Ministry)

STORYLINE:

Sweden's failure to prevent provocations, including the recent burning of a Quran, raises concerns about Sweden's NATO bid, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAKAN FIDAN, Türkiye's Foreign Minister
"The fact that the Swedish security system is incapable of preventing provocations and that it presents an image that brings problems to NATO, not more power, obviously makes us think in terms of strategics and security during the days when Sweden's membership to NATO is being discussed. On the other hand, it is a question of whether it will bring a burden or a benefit in terms of strategic and security evaluation when it comes to Sweden's membership in NATO. Now it's more open to debate."

However, Fidan said Ankara would still approve Sweden's membership to NATO if Stockholm "completes its homework," referring to the fight against terror groups.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): HAKAN FIDAN, Türkiye's Foreign Minister
"If Sweden continues its efforts and does its homework, there are always other alternatives, just as in the case of Finland. However, while the fight against terrorism is already a problem area for Sweden, the fact that there is an atmosphere that allows insults to sacred values and that the perception of the security system in Sweden cannot produce and prevent a mechanism to prevent these provocations makes us think even more."

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 (PKK) and the Gulen movement.
   
Türkiye eventually lifted its objection to Finland earlier this year after the Nordic country took "concrete steps" against such groups, and the country went on to become NATO's 31st member in April. But Ankara maintains its veto of Sweden.
   
The military alliance will hold a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12, at which NATO wants to finalize Sweden's admission process.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)