The Turkish government considers «very negative» the decision of the Swedish Supreme Court rejecting the extradition of journalist Bulent Kenes, labeled a «terrorist» by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his alleged involvement in the 2016 coup attempt.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has questioned this court ruling, recalling the commitments made by Sweden and Finland in exchange for NATO membership. «We do not expect fine words (…), but concrete steps,» he has told the media, according to the newspaper ‘Hurriyet’.
The three countries sealed before the start of the NATO summit in Madrid a commitment with which Turkey softened its misgivings about Swedish and Finnish integration into the Alliance, although to date the process remains stalled.
Cavusoglu said that the Swedish authorities have taken some positive steps, such as extraditing a person who was not on Turkey’s priority list. However, he does not see it as «realistic» to think that the steps taken so far are enough.
The latest controversy is expected to be part of a meeting between Cavusoglu himself and his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstroem, on Thursday. The two will meet in Turkey on Thursday, after Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also made a similar visit in November.
Then, and in Kristersson’s presence, Erdogan referred to the Kenes case. «It is important that this terrorist be deported to Turkey,» he warned.
The Swedish Supreme Court, however, has opposed such a transfer, arguing a number of «obstacles.» Among them, he cited the fact that some of the crimes charged are not covered by the Swedish Penal Code and that they may be «political crimes».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
