Aircraft malfunction hinders Turkey-Sweden Security Mechanism meeting

Foreign Ministry sources stated that the Swedish state aircraft carrying Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer was forced to return to Stockholm due to a technical malfunction that occurred while en route to Turkey.

Ministry sources reported that the "Turkey-Sweden Security Mechanism" meeting has been postponed to be held at a later date in light of this development.

The sources stated, "Our joint efforts to strengthen our cooperation in the field of security, primarily in the fight against terrorism, will continue."

Swedish Foreign Ministry Press Spokesperson Richard Wahlström stated in a press release that the aircraft, which had taken off for Ankara with the Foreign and Justice Ministers on board, returned due to a technical malfunction.

Wahlström stated, "It was a safety precaution taken due to a technical malfunction and did not pose an immediate danger to the passengers or crew. The meeting in Ankara, where many important issues including cooperation against terrorism and organized crime were to be discussed, was highly anticipated. Work has begun to arrange a new meeting date as soon as possible."

SECURITY MECHANISM MEETING WAS TO BE HELD IN ANKARA

The Security Mechanism Meeting at the ministerial level between Turkey and Sweden was scheduled to be held in Ankara today.

The meeting, which was to be chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard, was also set to be attended by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Swedish Justice Minister Strömmer.

The Security Mechanism Meeting, which was to be held for the first time, carried special importance in terms of developing cooperation between the institutions of the two countries in the field of counter-terrorism.