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Nations joining NATO must fulfill their obligations — Turkish Security Council

"Those who undermine such values as freedom of religion, consciousness and thought, and encourage and defend such actions, which could not be justified by democracy and freedoms, are complicit in these crimes," the statement says

ANKARA, January 25. /TASS/. Nations that desire to join NATO must fulfill their obligations, including on countering terrorism, says the statement by the Turkish Security Council, which held a meeting led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday.

"Turkey supports NATO’s open door policy. At the same time, nations that desire to join the alliance must act in accordance with its law and its spirit. They must fulfill their obligations, outlined in the memorandum of understanding [signed by Turkey, Sweden and Finland], regarding combating terrorist organizations, especially the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK, deemed terrorist in Turkey - TASS) and FETO," the Security Council said.

Commenting on the scandalous events that took place in Sweden and caused a harsh reaction from Ankara, the Security Council said that it "decisively condemns these heinous attacks," calling them "a display of racism and anti-Islamic sentiments, aimed against sacred values of billions of people."

"Those who undermine such values as freedom of religion, consciousness and thought, and encourage and defend such actions, which could not be justified by democracy and freedoms, are complicit in these crimes," the statement says.