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Home NATIONALPresident rebuffs Åland security speculations
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Thu, 13 Aug, 2015 12:03:58 AM
FTimes – STT Report, Aug 13
 
President Sauli Niinistö and first lady Jenni Haukio visited Åland Islands on Wednesday, August 12th 2015. Photo – Lehtikuva.
President Sauli Niinistö has expressed concern at war-related speculations going on the media.
 
The president during a visit to the Åland Islands on Wednesday also warned against making the war rhetoric a routine.
 
Niinistö allayed the fear of change in the islands’ security situation saying that not even a small change has taken place in reference to the security situation in the region.
 
“Åland is a key location in the Baltic Sea, but I do not see that the strategic position would be changed so that everyone would want to come here,” Niinistö said.
 
Earlier in the summer, Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö said the country was preparing for the occupation of the Åland Islands. 
 
He pointed out that the situation in the Baltic Sea had changed and that it was worthwhile to look at how the defence of the Åland was being carried out.
 
 
“We have to rely upon the international law, but we cannot rely 100 per cent on that during times of crisis,” Defence Minister Niinistö was quoted as saying in a Lännen Media interview.
 
President Niinistö in his interpretation on Wednesday said the 1947 peace accord also included, among other things, the Åland agreement of the early 1920s.
 
In the agreement, Finland is committed to the demilitarisation and neutralisation of the Åland.
 
The president observed that Russia had confirmed the demilitarisation of the Åland Islands under the prevailing conditions and the neutrality of the Åland is as if fixed.
 
The president also spoke against making a big deal out of issues related to wartime neutrality, since no one had questioned anything.
 
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