Vienna (OTS/SK) – “Erdoğan’s attempt to confuse the issue of Turkey’s EU accession prospects with NATO issues is unacceptable and must be firmly rejected. The EU and NATO are two different institutions,” said SPÖ Europe spokesman Jörg Leichtfried, reacting to the Turkish President’s statements shortly before the start of the NATO summit in Lithuania. Accordingly, Erdoğan wants to make approval of Sweden’s NATO accession dependent on Turkey’s EU accession prospects. ****
“EU membership is conditional. The accession negotiations are on hold because unacceptable developments have been recorded in Turkey, particularly in the area of the rule of law,” said Leichtfried, adding: “EU membership cannot be blackmailed.” (Conclusion) lp
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