Sweden and Finland can join NATO from 2023, the NATO Secretary General estimated on Sunday, who, however, reminded that the decision depends on the parliaments of Turkey and Hungary, reports Agerpres.

“I expect (that the accession will take place in 2023), but I will not guarantee the exact date, because it is of course about the sovereign decisions of the Parliament of Turkey and the Parliament of Hungary, which have not yet ratified the agreement,” Jens Stoltenberg told AFP in an interview .

Since May, Hungary and especially Turkey have been blocking the accession of the two northern countries to NATO.

“We had negotiations, and they were quite demanding, in July last year, when Turkey, Finland and Sweden agreed to a joint memorandum in which they describe how they can intensify their cooperation, both in terms of arms exports and, for example, in fight against terrorism,” Stoltenberg recalled.

“Finland and Sweden have respected this agreement and have clearly committed themselves to long-term cooperation with Turkey on these issues. So, it is time to complete the accession process and ratify the accession protocol,” he said.

Sweden says Turkey “wants what we cannot give”.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister of Sweden said that his country cannot and does not want to meet some of Turkey’s demands in order to allow it to join NATO.

In December, the Swedish Supreme Court refused to extradite journalist Bulent Kenes at the request of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara “also claims that it wants things that we cannot and do not want to give it,” Ulf Kristersson emphasized during a security and defense conference.

The NATO Secretary General spoke about the speed of the accession process of the two countries.

“Of course, I would like it to be completed as soon as possible. But, at the same time, this is a quick process compared to all processes of joining NATO,” Stoltenberg said.

“I am convinced that it will happen, but I will refrain from speculating about the specific moment,” he concluded.