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Fri, 06 Jun, 2014 12:07:10 AM FTimes-STT Report, June 6  File picture of President Sauli Niinistö. Photo – Lehtikuva. President Sauli Niinistö believes that Finland has more options with regard to its security policy than necessarily seeking alignment or joining the military alliance NATO.
Speaking at a meeting of an Association of Editors-in-chief in Helsinki on Thursday, the president emphasised on the need for the country to develop its own defence cooperation despite the fact that many states of the European Union are members of the NATO alliance.
"There is a third way: to develop own strength and form cooperation," said Niinistö.
Niinistö also opposed the formation of a defence system parallel to NATO but believes that Europe's defence should instead be coordinated with NATO.
The president referred to the earlier discussions held at the beginning of the year which revealed the Swedes strong interest in cooperating with Finland.
He also considers it strange on how the issue of Europe defence cooperation is taken negatively during Finland's security policy debate.
According to the president, there is a clear divide between those who support NATO membership and those who are against alignment.
Those who are against the aligned position would, according to Niinistö, gladly reverse back to former stance of neutrality.
Speaking on the issue of Ukraine, the president stressed on the importance of peace as fundamental value in the EU.
"What we see in Ukraine is that peace also requires defence and weapons. Is it right that we guarantee it by outsourcing it to NATO, practically to the United States?" asked Niinistö.
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Finland Times
| Saturday, 27 April, 2024 |
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