Sweden, according to Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, “condemns all terrorist organisations, including the PKK.”
Billstrom said at a news conference in Paris alongside French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna that Sweden had fulfilled the final part of its commitment under a June 2022 trilateral memorandum signed in Madrid to address Ankara’s security concerns about terrorism with a new anti-terror law that went into effect on June 1.
He emphasised that Stockholm’s purpose is the same as Ankara’s: to combat terrorism.
In response to an Anadolu question about where his government is in its war against the PKK, he stated that Stockholm has met its commitments and that cooperation between Swedish and Turkish police has significantly improved.
“Sweden’s position on the PKK is unequivocal. That’s why we wanted to fulfil everything specified in the pact and join NATO,” he explained.
Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO shortly after Russia declared war on Ukraine in February 2022.
Although Turkey has accepted Finland’s membership, it is waiting for Sweden to meet its obligations under the agreement.
Several foreign ministers are hoping that Turkey will approve Sweden’s petition before the NATO conference next month.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that if Turkey is to respond to Stockholm’s hopes of NATO membership, Sweden must also do its bit in combating the PKK terror group ahead of the summit.