Expert forum expects Finland to join NATO in ten years

Calls at debate for better relations with USA

Jaakko Iloniemi

Max Jakobson

Esko Aho

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Experts taking part in a discussion arranged by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA on Tuesday believe that Finland will join NATO within the next ten years.
      "I am quite convinced that this question will certainly come up, and that there will be a positive decision", said veteran diplomat Jaakko Iloniemi at the debate.
      Iloniemi said that NATO is the only political organisation embracing both shores of the Atlantic, and that Finland would have a greater voice if it were in NATO than if it stayed outside.
      Veteran diplomat and journalist Max Jakobson noted that he has never really understood the reasons why opponents of NATO membership feel as they do.
      Former Prime Minister Esko Aho, who now serves as President of the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (SITRA), said that he expects Finland to join NATO when relations between Europe and the United States improve.
     
In addition to being strong supporters of Finnish membership in NATO, Iloniemi, Jakobson, and Aho support proposed changes in peacekeeping legislation, so that a United Nations mandate would not be required for Finnish participation in peacekeeping operations.
      Iloniemi said that permanent Security Council members such as Russia or China should not have the final say on what peacekeeping operations Finland takes part in.
     
The three also called for improving Finland's relations with the United States. "We could start by avoiding insulting language", Iloniemi said.
      He would not specify if he was referring to President Tarja Halonen or Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, both of whom have come under criticism from EVA, but tones at the think tank's discussion on Tuesday evening were moderate.


Links:
  EVA web site
  SITRA web site

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