PM Vanhanen: USA must be kept interested in Europe
Finnish Prime Minister says NATO membership would require referendum in Finland
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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) feels that the relationship between Europe and the United States needs to be nurtured. Speaking at a national defence seminar in Helsinki on Tuesday, Vanhanen said that it is in the European interest to "keep the United States politically interested in Europe".
"The overall flow of markets can easily shift the interest of the United States toward the Asian-Pacific area, where there is great potential for economic growth", Vanhanen said.
Vanhanen said that he is in full agreement with former Prime Minister Esko Aho, who said recently that the war in Iraq has led to unnecessary confrontational attitudes between the Old and New Worlds in European discourse.
Vanhanen said that this attitude, which Aho called "fundamentalist anti-Americanism", should be avoided.
"I feel that it is important that the United States is committed to the security of our continent. I do not share the views, according to which the strengthening of Europe in security and defence policy would lead to a conflict between the EU and the United States", Prime Minister Vanhanen said.
Vanhanen said that joining a military alliance is not a topical issue for Finland, but that "no technical impediments must be allowed to emerge to block a membership treaty".
This means that the equipment and operations of Finland’s Defence Forces must be compatible with those of NATO.
Vanhanen reiterated his party’s statement from two years back, according to which a referendum should be arranged if Finland decides to seek NATO membership.
He emphasises that if Finland does join NATO, it would be good for the future partners to know that the Finnish people are ready to fulfil the obligations of membership.
Vanhanen observed that it is much less likely for Finland to need the help of the alliance than for Finland to be expected to take part in NATO operations somewhere else.
He added that he felt that the NATO issue is not an ideological one, but rather a "practical question".
Vanhanen said that Finland is preparing for participation in the EU’s rapid deployment forces. He said that the force would involve not only professional soldiers who would be ready to leave at 60 days' notice; it would also involve a small group of Finns ready to take part in crisis management operations with just five days’ warning.
Vanhanen said that efficient crisis management is more than just monitoring cease-fires. It is also active intervention, in which the use of force might be necessary. At times the EU might want to act without authorisation of the United Nations.
He said that Finland will have to reassess its present law on peacekeeping, which states that Finnish peacekeepers can only be sent to missions abroad if they have a mandate from the UN or the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 12.5.2004 - TODAY |
 PM Vanhanen: USA must be kept interested in Europe |
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