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21:15 GMT
BRUSSELS, May 16 (KUNA) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Monday said he had and "important call" with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
"I welcome her government's decision to apply for NATO membership. Sweden is one of our closest partners and membership would strengthen the security of Euro-Atlantic area and Sweden at a critical time," he said on his official twitter account this evening.
The Swedish moves comes a day after Finland formally announced its decision to join the Alliance. (end)
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