Defence Minister Wallin: Finland decides independently
Finnish government ministers and other senior figures have been swift to respond to Tuesday's comments over Finnish-NATO co-operation made by the Russian Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov. Defence Minister Stefan Wallin stated that Finland will make its own evaluations and decisions about NATO independently.
Defence Minister Wallin provided his comment to YLE in an SMS text.
"Positions can be freely presented in Finland. This is a free country," wrote Wallin.
"But, Finland evaluates its relationship with NATO, in the manner laid out in the government's programme, on the basis of its own national security and defence policy interests. This statement means that Finland makes its evaluations and decisions itself and independently," the Defence Minister stated in his message to Yle.
Meanwhile head of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Timo Soini said that Finland poses no threat to Russian security.
Soini said it remains to be seen whether Makarov's statements are isolated or form part of a sustained position.
