Turkey-Finland-Sweden-NATO summit before Madrid Summit

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Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın answered the questions of journalists Aslı Aydıntaşbaş and Gürkan Zengin at Kübra Par's Açık ve Net program on Habertürk TV last night (June 26).

Among the topics Kalın touched upon was the NATO summit to be held in Madrid on June 29-30, and the visit of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Turkey on June 23.

Kalın announced that Turkey, Sweden, Finland, and NATO summits will be held before the Madrid Summit, where Finland and Sweden's applications for NATO membership will also be discussed in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war.

CLICK - Kalın: Madrid Summit not a deadline for NATO membership

"Two meetings were already held in Ankara and Brussels with Sweden and Finland officials so far," Kalın said:

"One day before the summit (28 June), at the request of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, a meeting will be held with the participation of President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."

Kalın stated that Turkey's participation in the summit "does not mean that it has stepped back from its position."

He also recalled Turkey's demands from both countries regarding the "fight against terrorism" and stated the following:

"You are abandoning the 200-century policy of neutrality, making a major paradigm shift, and deciding to join a military alliance.

"To succeed in the process, you will have to make very serious changes in both Sweden and Finland. It will require changes in legislation, law, and Constitution. We want you to show the same change regarding your policy against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and YPG (People's Protection Units), PYD (Democratic Union Party), and similar structures affiliated with it.

"This is not more difficult and not impossible than any other changes that they will make. They say that they will take some steps. We have noted their commitment but there is a difference between making a commitment and taking concrete steps.

"There are a few things left that we disagree on. If we come to an agreement tomorrow, that's how we will go to Madrid."

"Normalization" with Saudi Arabia

Another issue that Presidential Spokesperson Kalın touched upon was the murder of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey and Prince bin Selman's first visit to Turkey since the murder:

CLICK - Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee protests bin Salman's visit to Turkey

"I would like to answer on two levels. The first is a technical approach to the Khashoggi case, and the second is the general framework. There are always some changes in international relations. We are going through a normalization period with Egypt, Armenia, and Saudi Arabia.

"There is no eternal enmity and hostility in international relations. You make peace and then you continue on your way."

"We didn't have serious problems before Khashoggi"

"We did not have serious problems with Saudi Arabia until the Khashoggi murder. We had differences of opinion on one or two topics. The Khashoggi murder created great trauma. It was committed in such a way in our country... I think Turkey did more than its part at that time. It was announced and was on the world's agenda... Then a legal process started.

"Due to this incident, our relationship with Saudi Arabia has been seriously damaged. Such a murder taking place in the land of the Republic of Turkey is not something to be overlooked or covered up.

"Some decisions may not ease the conscience"

"There were several phases of the legal process. The relevant authorities talked to each other during the judicial processes. We put forward an indictment against a citizen of another country. There are a lot of legal issues here. The International Judicial Cooperation Law No. 6706 was implemented.

"Sometimes, some decisions made by the law may not relieve the public conscience. We have to respect the decision of the court.

"The trial of citizens of another country is taking place here. There has been a legal process in Saudi Arabia regarding those people.

"Judicial action was taken and 16 people were tried and sentenced. Turkey reacted sharply and did its part.

"Saudi Arabia is an important actor"

"In the final analysis, Saudi Arabia is an important actor in the region. Even though we had disagreements on certain issues before the murder, they did not create issues. We have to consider the interests of our country.

"We have to look at the big picture and consider Turkey's relations in the region and relations with Saudi Arabia. You cannot conduct foreign policy with hostility." 

(SD/TB)