"I welcome Turkey's announcement of progress on the ratification of Finland's membership."

APA reports that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in a joint statement to the press after the meeting with the Finnish foreign and defense ministers.

"I hope that the Grand National Assembly will quickly conclude the ratification process. I also welcome Hungary's announcement that they will vote on Finland's ratification next week.

Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership together.

And all NATO allies invited Finland and Sweden to join our alliance at our Summit last year.

Of course, it is important that both Finland and Sweden become members as soon as possible".

"We welcome the progress made in finalizing Finland's ratification.

It will be the main priority to ensure that Sweden becomes a full member in the near future."