Poland optimistic as Turkey seeks action on NATO bids
STORY: Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO last week, seeking to boost security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They hoped it would be a quick accession process and other NATO members touted the planned enlargement as historic.
However, Turkey challenged the move saying they harbour people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.
All 30 NATO states must give their approval before a new member can be admitted and thus benefit from the pact's collective-security guarantee.
"A concrete step needs to be taken regarding Turkey's concerns," Cavusoglu told reporters at a news conference. "They have to cut the support given to terrorism."
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, in the same news conference, said he was optimistic about the NATO bids by Sweden and Finland.
"Contrary to many voices, I am very optimistic about the prospect of settling this, how should I put it, dispute and in the best spirit of long NATO unity and in partners solidarity, this issue will be solved," Rau said during a visit in Ankara which included the foreign minister of Romania Bogdan Aurescu.
