Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AFP

Turkey's Erdogan threatens to 'freeze' Swedish and Finnish Nato bids


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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday demanded that Nato complies with Ankara's conditions as he renewed his threat to "freeze" the bids of Sweden and Finland to join the military alliance.

During a Nato summit in Madrid at the end of June, Mr Erdogan accused the two countries of providing a haven for outlawed Kurdish militants and called on them to "do their part" in the fight against terrorism.

"I want to reiterate once again that we will freeze the process if these countries do not take the necessary steps to fulfil our conditions," he said on Monday, the eve of three-way summit with Russia and Iran.

"We particularly note that Sweden does not have a good image on this issue."

This month Nato began the accession procedures for Sweden and Finland after a deal was struck with Turkey, which had blocked them from joining.

Mr Erdogan has accused both countries of being havens for Kurdish militants, specifically the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) he has sought to defeat, and for promoting "terrorism".

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price did not speak directly of Mr Erdogan's remarks but referred to Turkey's approval during the Nato summit to the new memberships.

"Turkey, Finland, Sweden — they signed a trilateral memorandum in Madrid to set this process in motion," Mr Price said.

"The United States will continue to work with those three countries to see to it that this accession process and ratification — here and around the world — is as swift and efficient as it can possibly be."

Mr Erdogan is due to board a plane to Tehran on Monday evening for talks on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, from whom he hopes to receive approval for armed intervention in north-west Syria.

Ankara has been threatening since late May to launch an operation to create a 30-kilometre "security zone" along its border to tackle Kurdish fighters waging an insurgency against the Turkish state.

Tehran and Moscow have already expressed their opposition to such an offensive.

Russia, Turkey and Iran are all major players in the war that has ravaged Syria since 2011, with Moscow and Tehran supporting the regime of Bashar Al Assad and Ankara supporting rebels.

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes. 

The trip

From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

Emiratisation at work

Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago

It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.

Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers

The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension

President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.

During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development

More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics

The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens

UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere

The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens

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Updated: July 18, 2022, 10:39 PM