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| Europe |
| Finland: Russian embassy repudiates diplomat's comments on NATO membership |
| 2007-10-18 |
| The Russian Embassy in Helsinki has repudiated comments made by its diplomat Vladimir Kozin on how Russia would react to Finland's possible membership in NATO. Kozin said in a television interview on Wednesday that Finnish membership in NATO would pose a direct military threat to Russia. Kozin also suggested that Finland and Russia might hold joint military exercises. In a statement issued on Thursday, Ambassador Alexander Rumyanchev said that Kozin's statements do not represent the official views of Russia, or the views of the Russian Embassy in Finland. According to the Embassy, the statements were Kozin's personal opinions, which he made in his capacity as a researcher. President Tarja Halonen said on Wednesday that she does not believe that Russia sees possible Finnish NATO membership as a military threat. "I met President Putin about a week ago, and the issue was not raised in any way. If Finland were to become militarily allied, it would be Finland's own affair", said Halonen at a press conference on Wednesday during a visit to London. High-ranking Russian diplomat Vladimir Kozin said on YLE TV News on Wednesday that Finnish membership in NATO would be a direct military threat to Russia. He also commented on the matter in an interview with the private MTV3 network on Tuesday, using somewhat more moderate turns of phrase. Kozin also suggested that Finland and Russia might hold common military exercises. Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition Party), Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party) and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) did not want to comment on the statements. President Halonen was also brief in her comments. At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary of State Markus Lyra says that Kozin's statements should not be given too much weight. Lyra told Helsingin Sanomat that Kozin is a minor civil servant, who is not one of the top figures at the Russian Embassy. "Russia does not support the enlargement of NATO, that is certainly clear", Lyra said, adding that Russia's criticism of NATO is not directed particularly at Finland. Lyra notes that Russia has always emphasised that possible NATO membership is Finland's own affair. Lyra has reservations about Kozin's offer for common military exercises. According to the chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Pertti Salolainen (Nat. Coalition Party), Kozin's comments should be taken seriously. "It appears that he has the blessing of higher-ups to speak like this, and that this is not a matter of private initiative", Salolainen said on Wednesday. Salolainen did not take a stand on whether or not the purpose of the statements is to influence public opinion in Finland, while a new defence policy report is being planned. "If the aim is to influence public opinion, the time is well chosen." Salolainen feels that the statements reflect an increasingly tough foreign policy line in Russia. Former Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) has criticised the way that the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported the story on Wednesday. Tuomioja said that YLE is engaged in an "unusually open and stupid campaign to frighten Finns into supporting NATO membership". |
| Posted by:mrp |