Advertisement

Updated May 23rd, 2022 at 15:25 IST

Finland 'will monitor PKK more closely': FM Haavisto tells Turkey amid Helsinki's NATO bid

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that his country can assure Turkey that the PKK terror group’s connections in the country are monitored closely.

Reported by: Riya Baibhawi
Finland
Image: AP | Image:self
Advertisement

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has said that his country can assure Turkey that the PKK terror group’s connections in the country are monitored more closely, TRT reported. As Finland inches forwards toward NATO accession, Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan said that he would block Helsinki’s attempt to join the alliance if it does not halt what he deems as its support for Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)-- an organisation labelled as terrorist and banned by the Erdogan administration. 

"We can certainly give such guarantees to Türkiye. Since the PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation in Europe, it's important that we do our part not to allow any preparations for terrorist activity on Finnish soil," Haavisto told state broadcaster Yle on Sunday.

Turkish war on Kurds 

For years, the Turkish administration has been engaged in an armed conflict with various Kurdish insurgent groups including PKK who have demanded separation from Turkey to create an independent Kurdistan or to secure autonomy and greater political and cultural rights for Kurds inside the Republic of Turkey. PKK, itself has been labelled as a terror outlet not only by Turkey but also by the US and the EU. On Sunday, the Finnish lawmaker reckoned that his country and Ankara could resolve issues related to the Kurds but added that it could take a few weeks.

This comes as Finnish President Sauli Niinistö had a conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the situation. During the talks, Erdogan urged his Finnish counterpart to ditch financial and political support for 'terrorist' groups threatening Turkey’s national security. He warned that ignoring the threat of terrorist organisations is not in the spirit of NATO. 

The Turkish President's Office issued a statement which said that President Erdogan stated that disregarding the threat posed by terrorist organisations to a NATO ally is contrary to the alliance's ethos. He further noted that it is Ankara's natural right to expect respect and support for Turkey's lawful and relentless fight against a clear threat to national security and the lives of its citizens. For joining NATO, the consent of all its members is required. 

(Image: AP) 

Advertisement

Published May 23rd, 2022 at 15:25 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

IBL Finance IPO
a few seconds ago
RCB women's team and Virat Kohli
a few seconds ago
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
5 minutes ago
former dsp shailendra singh revealed criminal activity of Mukhtar Ansari
10 minutes ago
RBI
15 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
16 minutes ago
TCS 'cash for jobs' scam
22 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
26 minutes ago
Virat Kohli keeps a close watch on Gautam Gambhir
27 minutes ago
Good Friday
33 minutes ago
Life Insurance Corporation
33 minutes ago
Kerala Nirmal Lottery Sambad Friday Result
37 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo