Finland's concerns after the Swedish turnaround

Finland's concerns after the Turkey announcement from the government 

 

Of: 

 

Emil Forsberg , 

Adrian Ericson 

 

Published: Less than 3 hours ago 

 

Updated: Less than 20 min ago 

 

NEWS 

 

The Swedish turn around the Kurdish PYD and YPG is spreading concern in Finland. 

 

Several prominent Finnish politicians expressed surprise at the announcement.

 

- It is very strange, says the Social Democrat Member of Parliament Kimmo Kiljunen to Aftonbladet. 

 

In Ekot's Saturday interview, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström announced that Sweden distances itself from the Kurdish militia YPG and its political branch PYD. 

 

- There is too close a connection between these organizations and the PKK, which is a terror-listed organization by the EU, for it to be good for the relationship between us and Turkey, he says in the program.

 

         

           Finnish Member of Parliament Kimmo Kiljunen. Photo: PARLIAMENT OF FINLAND

Photo: PARLIAMENT OF FINLAND 

In Finland, the news is received with surprise, something Svenska Yle was the first to report on. 

 

Member of Parliament Kimmo Kiljunen (SPD) notes that Sweden is now distancing itself from the YPG, which was one of NATO's allies in northern Syria. 

 

- It is very remarkable that you distance yourself from a group that was on NATO's side in Syria and that the USA also supports. I don't value it, but want to know more about what Sweden means by this, he says to Aftonbladet. 

 

Is it relevant for Finland to do the same?

 

- We haven't talked about it at all because we don't know exactly what Sweden's government means. It is unclear to us and news to me. I'm just reacting to the news that you have to distance yourself from the position you had before, he says and continues: 

 

- I hope they do not take a new position in the world regarding human rights and rights for minorities. These are very important issues for us in Finland and I hope that they are also very important for Sweden. 

 

"Giving in to blackmail" 

 

Eva Biaudet (SPF), who sits on the Finnish Foreign Affairs Committee, says: 

 

- It looks like Erdoğan is getting his way. It looks as if Sweden is giving in to blackmail. It looks as if it would be okay for Turkey to have such demands on Sweden and Finland, she says to Svenska Yle. 

 

Aftonbladet is looking for the Swedish government.