Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says he will meet with Sweden’s new Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, in Turkey to discuss the Nordic country’s bid to join NATO.

The exact date of the meeting was not immediately made known.

“Sweden’s new prime minister requested an appointment. I told my friends, ‘give him an appointment.’ We will talk about these issues with him in our country,” Mr Erdoğan said.

The meeting would serve to “test” the Swedish leader’s “sincereness” on the issue of “fighting terrorists,” Mr Erdoğan asserted, a day after Kristersson said he was ready to travel to Ankara as soon as possible to discuss his country’s NATO entry.

Mr Erdoğan had previously said Ankara’s views would not change unless “terrorists” are handed over to Turkey.

Turkey had been blocking Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO for their alleged support to Kurdish militants and the group of U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, both of which Turkey classifies as terrorist groups.

Turkey is demanding the repatriation of some suspects and Sweden lifting its arms embargo.

Sweden recently said it was ready to supply weapons to Turkey.

For Sweden and Finland to become part of NATO, their applications must be ratified by all 30 members.

So far, 28 have already done, and only Turkey and Hungary have their votes still pending. 

(dpa/NAN)