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Thu, 10 Dec, 2015 05:02:51 AM FTimes-Xinhua Report, Dec 10
Finnish experts feared the terrorist threat to Finland will increase if Finland responds affirmatively to the United States' request to help fight the Islamic State (IS), Finnish daily Turun Sanomat reported Wednesday.
Finnish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. had asked Finland to join the coalition against IS. On Wednesday, the country's defense minister Jussi Niinisto said Finland will clarify its position on Friday.
Captain Antti Paronen, researcher at the Finnish National Defense University, told Turun Sanomat that the terrorist threat to Finland will grow, if Finland replies to the U.S. request positively.
Paronen pointed out that the IS is aware of all countries which participate in fighting against it.
"Finland has been ignored for a relatively long time. During this year, on a couple of occasions, it shows that IS is aware of our existence," Paronen was quoted as saying.
He disclosed that last month IS released a propaganda video, which included a list of its enemies. Finland was among the around 60 named countries.
Paronen estimated that the extremist militant group is not particularly interested in launching strikes on Finland, which is a small and distant country. However, the risk of terrorist attack will accelerate, if Finland joins the operations against IS.
Teemu Sinkkonen, senior researcher from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, echoed Paronen's opinions saying that any positive response to the US request will necessarily increase the terrorist threat to Finland.
Earlier, France asked Finland for help in actions against IS, and Finland replied affirmatively.
If Finland amends its legislation, and is actively involved in military means against IS, the assessment on the terrorist threat to Finland should be updated, he said.
The current legislation does not allow Finland to send military assistance to foreign countries.
Jussi Niinisto said earlier that a new legislation which allows Finland to provide military assistance to other European Union member states will be submitted to the Parliament at the beginning of next year.
Sinkkonen said that the possibility of terrorist attacks on Finland exists and the threat might be individual acts, not well organized assaults by a terrorist group. More News
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Finland Times
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