Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja . File Photo – Lehtikuva.
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said the Finno-Russian border has been "one of the most stable and peaceful" ones in the world in an interview with Russian wire service Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Finnish news agency STT-Lehtikuva reported that Tuomioja was quoted as saying that Russia shared the same opinion.
However, if Finland joined NATO, then new tensions will be caused, he added.
File Photo AFP– Lehtikuva.
Tuomioja underlined that Russia's views must be taken into account.
Tuomioja said Finland is part of the western world and acts in line with other western countries in matters such as sanctions against Russia.
Among European Union members, Finland has the longest border with its eastern neighbor Russia. Finland, together with Sweden, is not a NATO member but maintains cooperation with the alliance.
