Tue, 05 Jul, 2016 12:01:30 AM FTimes – STT Report, Jul 5  NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. File Photo– Lehtikuva. The military alliance North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is ready to discuss and coordi-nate their actions with Finland and Sweden in times of crisis, said NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the Warsaw summit.
Stoltenberg stressed that Finland and Sweden decide independently who has access to their lands during times of crisis.
“In a conflict situation, we will discuss and coordinate, as close partners do,” Stoltenberg told Finnish news agency STT as well as Swedish and Norwegian news agencies in an interview conducted by email.
“As close partner countries, Finland and Sweden may request a consultation for any situation, including when their security is threatened,” Stoltenberg said.
In Finland, military consultations hold a negative connotation, because of the mutual defence treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union.
In 1961, there was a Note Crisis in which the Soviet Union appealed to the treaty and suggested Finland a military consultation to secure defences of both the countries.
File Photo AFP-Lehtikuva. According to Stoltenberg, NATO does not seek confrontation with anyone, but all its actions are proportionate and in accordance to international obligations.
“Every country has the sovereign right to choose its own security arrangements,” he said.
“From NATO's perspective, Finland and Sweden are very talented and highly committed part-ners, who increase our military strength and provide political support for us,” Stoltenberg added.
The Warsaw summit will be held on July 8 and 9.
President Sauli Niinistö, Foreign Minister Timo Soini, and Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö will be representing Finland at the Warsaw summit.
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