Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that what he described as terrorist organizations are laying mines on the way to Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In a speech he delivered during a meeting of the Advisory Council of the Justice and Development Party in the city of Alanya, Antalya, in the south of the country, Cavusoglu added that Sweden could - if it wanted - remove these obstacles and mines by itself, as he put it.
He also pointed out that Turkey has been fighting terrorism for 40 years, and that it did not receive the support it was waiting for.
The Turkish Foreign Minister criticized Sweden for allowing the burning of the Holy Quran, saying, "Under the name of freedom of expression, you will allow the burning of the Holy Quran, and you authorize every despicable act against Turkey, then you want to join NATO."
And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a few days ago that his country would not agree to Sweden joining NATO as long as it allows the burning and tearing of the Holy Qur’an on its soil.
Erdogan added, "Our position is positive towards Finland's membership in NATO, and negative towards Sweden's membership."