"What Sweden has to do for NATO membership is obvious," said Tobias Billström, and argued that his country is abiding by the memorandum signed by Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden concerning the NATO bids of the two countries.

The Foreign Minister of Türkiye called the Qur'an burning demonstrations "provocations" with the purpose of preventing Sweden's NATO membership. Speaking at another place on the same issue, Sweden's Prime Minister Kristersson called the demonstrators "useful fools."

In late December, defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Russia, Türkiye and Syria met in Moscow in what was the highest-level meeting between Ankara and Damascus since the beginning of the war in Syria. (SD/VK)

The decision followed those made by the Consulate-Generals of Great Britain and the Netherlands in İstanbul, both of which are temporarily closed, and warnings that "risk of terror attacks" could follow the Qur'an burning demonstrations in Sweden and Denmark.

Transparency International 2022 index reports that the country has lost two points in a year. Türkiye is a decliner since 2013 and a significant decliner lately in the index.

Diplomatic missions of several countries in Türkiye have warned their citizens against possible retaliatory attacks.

Sweden's reluctance to extradite "terror" suspects and burning of Quran in Stockholm would be the reasons for Türkiye's new move, according to the president.

The ambassador was told that Türkiye condemns the "provocative act" and Denmark's attitude about the incident was "unacceptable."

Those responsible for the attack that killed one security officer and injured two others should be "immediately brought to justice," the Foreign Ministry has said.

Türkiye's head of state was supposed to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz. However, Berlin's focus on Justice and Development Party's (AKP) deputy Açıkgöz's "provoking statements" in Neuss, North Rhine-Westphalia, led Erdoğan to cancel his Berlin visit.

Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassador Joep Wijnands after Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (Pegida) leader Edwin Wagensveld tore up a Qur'an in front of the House of Representatives in the Netherlands on Sunday.

Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye stated that a representative of the Ukrainian government will also participate in the summit.