HELSINKI (Dagbladet): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin meet the press before the SAMAK summit in Helsinki.
Finland’s and Sweden’s application for NATO membership is a central topic during the meeting. The same is the situation in Ukraine.
SAMAK is the labor movement’s Nordic cooperation committee, and this year the summit will therefore be held in the Finnish capital. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) is also present during the summit.
– We are meeting at a critical time, says Stoltenberg, referring to Putin and the war in Ukraine.
Russia statements are butchered
Stoltenberg emphasizes that it is now high time to ratify our neighboring countries’ NATO applications and that, in his eyes, both countries are ready to join.
– Planning more war
– It will not only be good for Sweden and Finland to join NATO, but all NATO countries, Stoltenberg continues.
HOST: Prime Minister Sanna Marin hosted this year’s SAMAK summit. Photo: Jørgen Gilbrant / Dagbladet
sea view
– Putin is planning more war, he adds.
Stoltenberg emphasizes that no one knows when this war will end.
– But when it ends, we must ensure that history does not repeat itself. That Putin does not continue to attack his neighbours, says Stoltenberg to the press.
He emphasizes that he is sure that both Sweden and Finland will become NATO members and praises both countries’ quick decision to apply for membership after Putin’s invasion.
Want in as soon as possible
Prime Minister Sanna Marin emphasizes that Finland has – and will continue to support Ukraine’s struggle militarily.
This is important to end the war as quickly as possible, she tells the press.
MEET THE PRESS: Jens Stoltenberg and Sanna Marin meet the press before the summit. Photo: Jørgen Gilbrant / Dagbladet
sea view
– We hope that we will become members as soon as possible, hopefully before the summer, but we do not know this, says Marin.
– It is sovereign states that must approve the memberships, but my message is clear to everyone: The time has come, says Stoltenberg.
The Finnish Riksdag will today vote on legislation needed for the country to join NATO. For that to happen, the assembly must be unanimous. A new vote will be held on Wednesday if any of the elected representatives propose rejecting the bill, writes NTB.
Promise more money
Voting next week
After the Riksdag has decided to approve Finnish NATO membership, Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö must also sign the decision.
He has pointed out that this is urgent.
Niinistö’s signature means that Finland will become a member of NATO as soon as Turkey and Hungary ratify Finland’s accession protocol. Hungary’s National Assembly is scheduled to start a debate on ratification this week and hold a vote next week.
As far as Turkey is concerned, a new meeting between Turkey, Sweden and Finland about the NATO applications is scheduled to be held on 9 March.
