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Finland will not extradite Kurds, FETO members to Turkey — legislator

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier that Ankara would not support the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO until they determined their attitude towards terrorist organizations, in particular, the PKK

ANKARA, June 2. /TASS/. Finland will not extradite to Turkey the Kurds affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and members of the FETO organization, whom Ankara regards as terrorists and wants to be extradited, a member of the Finnish parliament and chairman of the Kurdish Friendship Group, Johan Kvarnstrom, a said in an interview to the Kurdish TV channel Rudaw on Thursday.

About the problem of taking into account Ankara's concerns regarding the activities of the PKK and FETO in Finland and Sweden, Kvarnstrom said that in order to overcome these issues, "it is important to establish a dialogue with Turkey and to explain both countries’ position to it" and to do this both at the bilateral level and in NATO.

The ambassadors of Finland and Sweden to NATO, Klaus Korhonen and Axel Wernhoff, on May 18 presented to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg their countries’ applications for the alliance’s membership. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on the same day that Ankara would not support the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO until they determined their attitude towards terrorist organizations, in particular, the PKK. Ankara also recalled that for a long time it had been demanding the extradition of a number of persons it regarded as extremists, from Finland and Sweden, but had not achieved anything in this respect to this day.

Earlier on Thursday, the head of the of the Turkish presidency’s directorate of communications, Fahrettin Altun, in an interview with the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, said that the republic "does not expect any compromises regarding the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO and puts forward fundamental conditions for them" to join the alliance.

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Sounds in Isfahan due to air defense work to repel attacks by suspicious objects — general

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Vehicles, equipment participating in Victory Day parade depart for Moscow — ministry

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

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US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

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Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

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US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

The movement called upon the international community to "break free from Washington’s influence and support the struggle of the Palestinian people"

Situation in Iran’s Isfahan stabilizes after drone attack — media

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Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

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Iran completed operation, to respond with greater force if needed — envoy to Russia

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

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G7 foreign ministers set to call on all sides to exercise restraint in Middle East

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel will "most likely" respond to the recent Iranian attack

Effort to grant full UN membership to Palestine will continue — Russian mission

"The UN history has precedents when states were not admitted on their first try. The number of attempts is not limited," Nadezhda Sokolova said

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

Evacuation campaigns are regularly organized by the Kiev government, under the pretext of security issues

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

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Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

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Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

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