Turkey agrees to support Sweden´s NATO bid

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday agreed to forward the NATO accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.

The announcement came following a meeting between NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius, said NATO in a press release.

Swedish Prime Minister also agreed that Sweden would actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey’s EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Tturkey Customs Union and visa liberalisation.

Turkey has been holding a veto of Sweden's NATO accession on the grounds that the Nordic country harbors members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is listed as a terror group by Ankara, the EU and the United States.

Stoltenberg welcomed Erdogan’s agreement to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly.

“Completing Sweden’s accession to NATO is an historic step that benefits the security of all NATO Allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer,” said Stoltenberg.