Finland urges Nato to unblock accession

Berlin, Jun 19 (EFE).- Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin on Sunday called for Turkey to stop blocking Finland and Sweden’s accession to Nato.

In a radio interview, Marin said the move was up to Ankara and that there was not much the Nordic countries can do if it wants to “hold Sweden and Finland hostage.”

“I hope that a solution is found and that the situation does not freeze,” she said, adding that she believed most of the defense alliance member states expect the issue to be resolved before the Nato summit in Madrid at the end of June.

The situation has been “unfortunate” since before Finland formally applied for membership, according to Marin.

The prime minister said she takes Ankara’s concerns seriously and that misunderstandings are being amended.

Trilateral talks with Sweden and Turkey will resume Monday in Brussels, the Finnish presidential office tweeted.

So far, Turkey maintains its opposition to Finland and Sweden’s entry, accusing both countries of backing terrorism and harboring Kurdish militants wanted by Ankara on terror charges.

Ankara had refused to hold a new trilateral meeting to resolve the issue, a process that seems to be stalled despite the efforts of Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, according to local media.EFE

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