Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the high-level session of the Nato summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Getty
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the high-level session of the Nato summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Getty
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the high-level session of the Nato summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Getty
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the high-level session of the Nato summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Getty

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Europe

Erdogan to refer Sweden's Nato bid to Turkish parliament in autumn

Turkey's President agrees to support membership bid but outlines conditions

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

July 12, 2023

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  • Arabic

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he intends to forward the ratification of Sweden's Nato bid to Parliament when it reopened in the autumn.

But Mr Erdogan said he expected Stockholm to take some steps against terrorism in return.

Turkey has resisted Sweden's ratification for months, accusing the country of doing too little against people it sees as terrorists, mainly members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

However, Mr Erdogan agreed to forward Sweden's Nato accession bid to parliament in an unexpected turn on Monday.

He told a news conference after the Nato summit in Lithuania that Sweden would provide a road map to Turkey over the steps it will take before the ratification is sent to Parliament.

Turkey's Parliament closes at the end of the week and will reconvene in October.

"When it reopens, I believe our parliament Speaker will bring this forward among international agreements. The primary place of approval is the parliament, then it will come to me for approval," Mr Erdogan said.

"We want this process to end as soon as possible."

Sweden and Finland applied for Nato membership last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, abandoning policies of military non-alignment that had lasted through the decades of the Cold War.

Day two of Nato summit in Lithuania - in pictures

US President Joe Biden greets the audience as he delivers a speech at Vilnius University during the Nato summit. EPA
US President Joe Biden greets the audience as he delivers a speech at Vilnius University during the Nato summit. EPA
People raised US and Lithuanian flags as the US President delivered a speech. AFP
People raised US and Lithuanian flags as the US President delivered a speech. AFP
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a press conference at the end of the Nato Summit in Vilnius. EPA
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a press conference at the end of the Nato Summit in Vilnius. EPA
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a closing news conference. AP
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a closing news conference. AP
G7 leaders, President of the European Council Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo during an event to announce a Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine during the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Reuters
G7 leaders, President of the European Council Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo during an event to announce a Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine during the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Reuters
US President Joe Biden and Mr Zelenskyy during the announcement of the joint declaration. Reuters
US President Joe Biden and Mr Zelenskyy during the announcement of the joint declaration. Reuters
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Biden, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Biden, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Mr Zelenskyy. EPA
Mr Stoltenberg shakes hands with Mr Zelenskyy ahead of their joint press conference. AFP
Mr Stoltenberg shakes hands with Mr Zelenskyy ahead of their joint press conference. AFP
Mr Zelenskyy with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Reuters
A Nato and Lithuanian flag at the venue on the second day of the summit. AP
A Nato and Lithuanian flag at the venue on the second day of the summit. AP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Reuters
Security forces patrol near the venue in Vilnius. AP
Security forces patrol near the venue in Vilnius. AP
Mr Zelenskyy with Mr Sunak. Getty
Mr Zelenskyy with Mr Sunak. Getty
A Ukrainian flag is carried into the venue. Reuters
A Ukrainian flag is carried into the venue. Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the Nato leaders summit in Vilnius. Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the Nato leaders summit in Vilnius. Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy spoke with the media when he arrived. AP
Mr Zelenskyy spoke with the media when he arrived. AP
Mr Sunak talking with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. AFP
Mr Sunak talking with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. AFP
Participants at the summit in Vilnius. Getty
Participants at the summit in Vilnius. Getty
Mr Scholz speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron. AFP
Mr Scholz speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron. AFP
Ms von der Leyen speaks during the second day of the summit. EPA
Ms von der Leyen speaks during the second day of the summit. EPA
Mr Macron greets Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. AFP
Mr Macron greets Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. AFP

Mr Erdogan said Stockholm would also support updating Turkey's customs agreement with the EU, and visa-free travel.

Turkey expects an EU reform group to be revived after Ankara approves Sweden's Nato membership as it seeks to enter a new period of improved ties with the West, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a senior official told Reuters on Wednesday that Mr Erdogan's government would hold talks with its parliamentary ally on ratifying Sweden's accession, after the Nationalist Movement Party appeared to take a negative view on the issue.

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said on Tuesday that Sweden had failed to distance itself from terrorism, but added that Mr Erdogan would make the final call about Sweden's membership bid.

Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, or AKP, relies on the MHP for a parliamentary majority, which is required to push through the ratification.

Other parties in parliament have not said whether they would support the move.

"There will be contacts with the MHP either by the president or by high levels of the government," the official said.

"Bahceli's comments are not fully compatible with the steps that have been taken so far.

"The behind-the-scenes developments and the reasoning for the decision that was taken will be relayed to Bahceli and other MHP executives."

Ankara also expects the lifting of some "implicit" economic restrictions, including embargoes and restrictions of arms trade, by Sweden and other EU and Nato countries, the official said.

A statement issued by Turkey and Sweden on Monday said Stockholm had reaffirmed that it would not provide support to the Kurdish groups and would actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process.

The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US.

UAE currency
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Armies of Sand

By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
 

Main report
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
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  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile

Company name: Nestrom

Started: 2017

Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi

Based: Jordan

Sector: Technology

Initial investment: Close to $100,000

Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors

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Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
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Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies

Director: Ritesh Batra

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz

Updated: July 13, 2023, 7:59 AM
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