Istanbul, 8 November 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Despite "positive steps" to meet Turkish demands for solidarity in the fight against terrorism, Ankara is not ready yet to welcome Stockholm into NATO, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday. His government still needs to soothe Turkish public concerns that solidarity in NATO is secured ahead of the elections next year," Erdoğan told a joint press conference with Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson in Ankara. "I believe my dear friend Kristersson will understand me at this moment," Erdoğan said, adding Turkey still expects "concrete" steps from Sweden, including repatriating some suspects whom Ankara considers "terrorists." Erdoğan named the former editor-in-chief of a now-defunct newspaper, affiliated with the group of US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, among suspects sought for repatriation. Turkey classifies the group as terrorists. Turkey had been blocking Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO, citing their alleged support for groups like the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - which the EU and the US classify as a terrorist organization. Turkey backs NATO's open-door policy and hopes a planned meeting between the three countries in Stockholm later this month will yield a "more positive outcome," Erdoğan added. Stockholm "understands that becoming a NATO ally includes responsibilities to other members, including Turkey," Kristersson said, adding: "I have offered ways that Sweden might help Turkey to fight terrorism ... We will fully implement the trilateral memorandum." He was referring to an agreement reached between Turkey, Sweden and Finland at the end of June. Besides Hungary, Turkey is the only NATO member state that has not yet ratified the accession of the two countries to the alliance.