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Finland was expected to debate NATO membership today with representatives of the military alliance, although as a border country with Russia it had so far maintained neutrality and a day earlier had been warned otherwise by Moscow.
But after the recent conflict in Ukraine someone in Finland has organized a referendum on the issue which is already reported to have reached 50,000 signatures.
Finnish lawmakers are discussing today the country’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance in a historic stance change with perhaps unprecedented consequences.
The 37-year-old Prime Minister of the country Sanna Marin said: “I understand the change that may have on the attitude of the Finns on NATO membership after Russia’s military action against Ukraine”, as he proposed the discussion in parliament.
Marin added that the change in the country’s position comes after Moscow’s recent aggressive stances. She added to the daily Helsingin Sanomat: “The question is whether Russia crosses the border, will we be alone or with others?”
Finland has a long border with Russia and the two countries fought from 1939 to 1940.
Russia has recently threatened both Finland and Sweden with “military consequences” if they interfere in its foreign policy.
A recent poll in Finland by the television group ‘Yle’ found that 53 per cent of Finns wanted to join a military alliance.
The survey had included only 1,382 respondents within two days between the ages of 18 and 80, according to the Yle network.
The development comes though in a similar poll in January only 28 per cent were in favor of NATO membership.
Finland has an 830-mile border with Russia and together with Sweden have received guarantees for the independence of their foreign policies from NATO.
But both Helsinki and Stockholm have removed Russian alcohol products from stores by extending the West’s severe economic blockade on Russia that could exacerbate the conflict.
Russia reiterated today that uniting its neighbors with the blockade will bring consequences.
“Finland and Sweden should not base their security on undermining the security of other countries, as their accession to NATO will have military and political consequences,” said Maria Zakharova, Moscow’s foreign policy spokeswoman.
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