ANKARA: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said that Ankara and Turkish president played a crucial role in the Black Sea deal extension and the prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking at the question-and-answer session on Monday at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Madrid, Secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that the grain deal has proved how it is important for ongoing global food security.
He added that tackling the deal ahead is important for food prices, especially for third world countries and it has proven its importance and we must ensure it should be continued.
Exchange of war prisoners
Lauding the government of Turkiye and its efforts for the success of the deal, the NATO Chief also pointed out the smooth prisoner swaps between Kyiv and Moscow that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan facilitated.
“The agreement for the exchange of prisoners of war is something that Turkiye and President Erdogan facilitated and of course also much welcomed by allies,” he added.
The momentous grain deal was signed in Istanbul in July by Turkey, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, which was extended for another 120 days last Thursday, beginning from November 19, 2022.
NATO accession protocol of Finland, Sweden
Commenting on the tripartite agreement between Turkey, Finland, and Sweden over the NATO accession of the two Nordic countries, the Secretary-general said that all allies duly signed the accession protocol of their NATO bids as 28 allies out of 30 members have so far ratified the bid.
He further said that the accession process of Sweden and Finland continues very fast that has never happened before while adding that it is time to see the two countries as NATO members. He also pointed to Turkiye’s security concerns and reiterated that no other NATO allied more terrorist attacks than Turkiye.
He also condemned the recent terror attack in Istanbul that killed six people and left 81 others injured.
The NATO Chief also highlighted the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine against Russia, and added that everyone has witnessed Russia having weaponized energy. – APP
