Logvinov: Turkey will not be accepted into the EU in exchange for agreeing to Sweden's membership in NATO

7/12/2023, 5:37:48 PM

Highlights: Turkey understands that it will not be accepted into the European Union in exchange for agreeing to accept Sweden into NATO. Ankara intends to achieve trade preferences and visa-free travel from the EU. Acting Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU Kirill Logvinov: "Turkey has long understood perfectly: no one is waiting for it in the European EU" Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed the opinion that before Sweden joins the North Atlantic Alliance, Turkey should be admitted to theEuropean Union.Commenting on this, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that Europeans are not waiting for Turkey in Europe, Ankara should not wear rose-colored glasses.

Turkey understands that it will not be accepted into the European Union in exchange for agreeing to accept Sweden into NATO, Ankara intends to achieve trade preferences and visa-free travel from the EU. This was stated by Acting Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU Kirill Logvinov.

"Turkey has long understood perfectly: no one is waiting for it in the European Union," TASS quoted him as saying.

Logvinov added that Ankara from time to time goes on the offensive and uses diplomatic leverage in the dialogue with the EU.

This, according to the diplomat, was done in the context of consent to Sweden's membership in NATO.

"For Ankara, the in the hands is the expansion of the customs union with the EU, that is, a qualitative change in trade and economic relations with the bloc, as well as providing it with a visa-free regime," Logvinov said.

He stressed that there is no question of exchanging "Sweden in NATO" for "Turkey in the European Union".

"Actually, this has already been confirmed by the European Commission, stating that the expansion of the European Union and the alliance are two parallel and unrelated tracks," the diplomat concluded.

Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed the opinion that before Sweden joins the North Atlantic Alliance, Turkey should be admitted to the European Union.

Commenting on this, the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that Europeans are not waiting for Turkey in Europe, Ankara should not wear rose-colored glasses.