Erdogan is “determined” to block Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO: a “den for terrorists”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that he is "determined" to confront Finland and Sweden's request to join NATO, describing Sweden as a "nest of terrorists."

"We are determined to maintain our position. We have told our friends that we will say no to Finland and Sweden, which want to join NATO, and we will continue on this path," he told a youth gathering on the occasion of the International Youth Day.

"Sweden and Finland are the two countries that harbor terrorists, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units," he added.

The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara, the United States and the European Union.

"We are very concerned about these two countries, especially Sweden, which is a hotbed of terrorism and a den of terrorists," he said.

Erdogan referred to the consensus rule within NATO: "If a country refuses to join, it cannot be accepted by (other countries)."

These statements, which were recorded for a TV program broadcast Thursday evening, were previously circulated on Erdogan's official Twitter account.

In his speech, he also condemned "Germany, France and Greece," which "received members of the Feto terrorist movement," the movement led by the preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has been residing in the United States since 1999 and accused of organizing the failed coup in July 2016.

"Feto members travel in Europe via Greece and (these countries) ignore the list of terrorists we handed them over and continue to protect them," he added.

Turkey has continued for a week to block the expansion of NATO to the two northern countries, and expressed hope Wednesday that "other member states will listen to their concerns."

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