Finland Times

Prime Minister Alexander Stubb emphasized the importance of working with NATO on Thursday, but ruled out the country's membership in the near future.

     Stubb made the remarks at a press conference held after he met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Helsinki.

     He emphasized that cooperation in international security and defence policy is crucial to Finland, and NATO partnership offers the best opportunities and concrete added value to the development of Finland's national defence.

     Stubb also said that Finland will continue to be interested in participation in NATO exercises and new forms of cooperation, such as in the field of cyber security.

    

The prime minister did not believe that Finland's membership in NATO would be topical in the near future, as the membership lacks general support from Finnish citizens.

     Stubb and Stoltenberg also discussed the Ukraine crisis, the current developments in Russia and NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea region.

     Stoltenberg visited Finland on March 4 and 5. During his visit, he also met the Speaker of Parliament Eero Heinäluoma with representatives of the parliamentary Defence

and Foreign Affairs Committees, Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja and Minister of Defence Carl Haglund.

Finland, a Nordic country neighbouring Russia, is not a member of NATO but maintains close partnership with the alliance.