Türkiye “achieved concrete, specific and significant results,” says Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, referring to Nordic countries’ pledge to address Ankara’s concerns over terrorism.
Türkiye will be working closely with Finland and Sweden to put the memorandum on Ankara’s terrorism concerns signed at the NATO summit into action, said the Turkish communications director.
“Our government will be working closely with our Finnish and Swedish counterparts to implement this agreement. We are satisfied with their constructive approach to address our concerns,” Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Wednesday.
“We will work to ensure that NATO has more unity on terrorism.”
He said the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto, Swedish Prime Minister Magdelena Andersson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg “achieved concrete, specific and significant results regarding our concerns over terrorism.”
All parties “agreed to full cooperation against the terror organisation PKK and all its extensions,” Altun said, adding that “Sweden and Finland committed to stand with Türkiye against all forms of terrorism and promised not to provide support to the PYD/YPG and FETO terror groups.”
Altun noted the agreement lifts Sweden and Finland’s “restrictions or sanctions on our defence industry”, and said, “they have committed to revise counter-terrorism laws to address our concerns regarding terror activities cloaked under pseudo-political activities.”
Türkiye, Sweden, and Finland have also “agreed to create an intelligence-sharing and cooperation mechanism against terrorism and organised crime,” the Turkish official said.
As part of the agreement, all sides agreed to also take “concrete steps and creating bilateral arrangements on extradition of individuals convicted of terrorism,” Altun wrote.
“Sweden and Finland agreed to ban any fundraising and recruitment activities by the PKK and its extensions as well as shell organisations. They also agreed to prevent terrorism propaganda against Türkiye.”
He also announced plans to establish a “Permanent Shared Mechanism to oversee and verify the implementation of these steps with the participation of justice, intelligence, and security bureaucracies of our respective countries.”
About President Erdogan’s meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, Altun said the Turkish leader has already met European Council President Charles Michel, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden.
“He will continue to hold meetings with NATO leaders throughout this summit,” he added.
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join the alliance last month, a decision spurred by Russia’s offensive on Ukraine, which began in February.
But Türkiye, a longstanding member of the alliance, voiced objections to the membership bids, criticising the countries for tolerating and even supporting terror groups such as the PKK and its offshoots.
Stoltenberg has repeatedly said that Türkiye has “legitimate concerns related to their fight against the PKK terrorist group and other organisations,” and that the PKK is considered a terror organisation by NATO, the EU, as well as Finland and Sweden.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.
Minister at the President’s Office for Strategic Communications Ibrahim Khaleel has underscored the importance of exercising the freedom of press within the responsibilities. He made the remarks while speaking at a programme aired on PSM News.
Commemorating the 7th anniversary of PSM News, Minister Khaleel was invited to the programme, as he played a pivotal role in founding the PSM News Channel during his tenure as the Former Managing Director of the Public Service Media (PSM). The minister worked in the field of journalism and broadcasting for several years, actively engaging in various media positions, including reading and writing news articles.
Highlighted the convenience within the field following the advancements of technology, Minister Khaleel revealed articulated his vision for PSM News to serve as the primary national channel, delivering reliable and timely news coverage across the entirety of the country. In observance of World Press Freedom Day, the minister noted the continuous expansion of press freedom over the years. On this stance, he stressed the significance of media outlets to execute obligations in disseminating news, urging the spread of credible information.
Furthermore, Minister Khaleel revealed the government’s plan to expand and promote journalism. As such, efforts are underway to provide educational opportunities and to strengthen the financial stability of media organisations.
The fourth meeting of the High-level Core Group between the Maldives and India took place in Indian capital New Delhi on Friday.
Maldivian Foreign Ministry said both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation between nations during Friday’s meeting while discussions were also held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including development and defense cooperation.
Additionally, the Foreign Ministry said it was reiterated that the Indian government will replace military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms by May 10th, adding both sides expressed satisfaction with the fact that all the logistical arrangements are going ahead as per schedule.
Both sides also agreed that the fifth meeting of the High-Level core Group will be held in Male’ on a mutually agreeable date in June or July.
The High-Level Core Group was formed following a meeting between Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, will attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which begins tomorrow, as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s Special Envoy.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs is scheduled to address the 15th session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as the President’s Special Envoy, which begins tomorrow, at Banjul, The Gambia. His address will be broadcast on television.
The Islamic Summit of the OIC, held once every three years, brings the leaders of the Islamic nations together to deliberate, take policy decisions, and provide guidance on issues pertaining to the Ummah as outlined in the OIC Charter.
The 15th Session of the Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will take place in Banjul, The Gambia, from May 4–5, 2024, under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development.”