Europe News Desk!! Finnish President Sauli Niinisto has said that during his upcoming visit to Turkey he would welcome Turkey’s response to Finland’s support for NATO membership. Niinisto said on Wednesday that his contact with Turkey’s presidential administration on the matter had been constant since last spring and had intensified in recent days. Stating that it is very important for Finland that NATO membership takes place as soon as possible for both his country and Sweden, the Finnish President said that he has been in contact with the Swedish Prime Minister. Niinisto’s trip to Turkey this Thursday and Friday was announced by Finland’s presidential office on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Niinisto will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday. The President’s Office said that in addition to NATO membership and post-earthquake reconstruction, topics on the agenda included the geopolitical situation and bilateral relations between Finland and Turkey. Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO on May 18, 2022. So far, 28 NATO member states have ratified applications, but Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve membership of the Scandinavian countries.
–IANS
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