President Tarja Halonen has disputed a recent statement by veteran diplomat and journalist Max Jakobson, according to which relations between Finland and the United States have deteriorated.
"In my view, relations between Finland and the United States are good, and as far as President Halonen’s ties with the United States are concerned, I have no knowledge of anything that should hurt relations between the countries", the President said on Thursday during a visit to Oulu.
The President also said that she has no plans to visit the United States during the remainder of her present term.
In his new book, Jakobson also said that Finland should join NATO in good time before there are any threats of war. Halonen emphasised that the European Union has become more active in crisis management.
