WASHINGTON, D.C.: Finland and Sweden are prepared to join the NATO alliance, the U.S. State Department announced this week.

The move comes after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked Sweden not to expect its support for its membership, after a weekend protest near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, including the burning of a copy of the Koran.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that burning holy books is deeply disrespectful, adding that "something can be lawful but awful."