Malmer Stenergard in meeting with Turkey about Joakim Medin
Consul General Johanna Strömqvist has today met Joakim Medin.
– It is with some relief that I can announce that our Consul General in Istanbul has now met Joakim Medin, says Maria Malmer Stenergard.
The Foreign Minister points out that Sweden has worked intensively at an early stage in contacts with Turkey to gain consular access, ie to meet Medin. What was said in the meeting or how he feels, Maria Malmer Stenergard does not want to go into.
In connection with a NATO meeting In Brussels this Thursday and Friday, Maria Malmer Stenergard will also have a separate meeting with her Turkish colleague Hakan Fidan.
– I will express how important this is to Sweden and that we hope to find a quick solution. This is of the highest priority for the government, says Maria Malmer Stenergard to DN.
What should you do to get him released?
– We work at different levels and in different channels for him to come home as soon as possible. I understand that there is a great interest in how we work, but since it is in such a sensitive position I cannot go into detail on exactly what we do, she says.
Should this be seen as hostage diplomacy given that Turkey wants to get people extradited from Sweden?
– I’m not going to speculate on that. They have arrested him on the suspect that he is part of a terrorist organization and must have insulted the president under their legislation.
In May, Turkey will host an informal meeting with NATO’s foreign ministers. At NATO, it is now discussed how appropriate it is to attend the meeting given that the country has arrested a leading opposition politician to President Erdogan, Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The arrest has led to major popular protests in Turkey.
Will you go to the meeting in May if Joakim Medin is still imprisoned?
– It’s a hypothetical issue. NATO is in an important stage now and it has always been my intention to participate in the meeting. But it is clear that it may be evaluated. It’s a lot of time until then.
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