28 June 2023 , 16:59
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NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has ordered emergency talks to thrash out alliance membership for Sweden before next month’s crunch coalition meeting.
Turkey is blocking Stockholm from joining the 31-nation bloc - and time is running out for its bid to be approved before NATO leaders meet in Lithuania in two weeks for their annual summit.
Finland and Sweden launched applications last year in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Helsinki was admitted in April, Sweden’s accession has stalled.
Ankara has so far blocked the bid, accusing the Swedes of harbouring what Turkey claims are militants from the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK.
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The pair spoke to the Press outside the Elysee Palace in Paris (AFP via Getty Images)Speaking before talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris tonight, Mr Stoltenberg said Turkish officials had been summoned to NATO headquarters in Brussels for a showdown next week.
Standing outside the Elysee Palace, he said: “We are working to finalise Sweden’s accession.
“Therefore, I have called another meeting of senior officials from Turkey, Finland and Sweden next Thursday in Brussels.
“The time is now to welcome Sweden as a full member of NATO.”
French Premier Mr Macron said: “We shall put ourselves in a position to send a message of unity, which is essential today.
“The joining of NATO (by Finland) a few weeks ago was a strong gesture and we shall now go all the way to make sure that Sweden can attend Vilnius as a full-fledged ally.”
Pointing the finger at Turkey and also Hungary - which is yet to ratify Sweden’s application because Budapest is said to be angry about Swedish criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban - Mr Macron said: “Twenty-nine states completed their national proceedings many months ago.
“I now invite the two that have not done so yet to take the necessary decisions and shoulder their responsibilities at a time when unity and security of the Continent are at stake.”
Heads of state and government including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are due to hold two days of crisis negotiations over the war in Ukraine in Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Alliance leaders are under mounting pressure to pave the way for Kyiv to join the group.
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Mr Stoltenberg said: “In Vilnius, we will agree a multi-year package of assistance and upgrade our political ties.
“This will bring Ukraine closer to our alliance. Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.”
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