Tighter scrutiny on movements of soldiers in autonomous Åland Islands
Transport of Swedish soldiers through demilitarised area violated international treaty
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The government’s committee on foreign and security policy, together with President Tarja Halonen, has agreed on new, tighter regulations on securing the internationally recognised demilitarised status of the semi-autonomous Åland Islands.
The issue came up after Swedish soldiers travelled to the Nordic Peace military manoeuvres in Finland last year on a passenger ferry that sailed via Åland. The route taken by the Swedes was seen to violate Åland’s demilitarised status.
"Prevailing practice in military transport has become lax in the past couple of decades, but for some reason, it has not been noted. Now the government wants to emphasise the special status of Åland and the demilitarisation treaty, which is - and will remain - in force", says Markus Lyra, head of the political section of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The government also notes that flights by foreign military aircraft through the Åland airspace are banned under the demilitarisation treaty. Therefore, the flights by Norwegian helicopters to last year’s exercises violated the treaty.
The only military aircraft that are allowed to fly in Åland airspace are ones carrying political leaders, and they must not carry any weaponry or surveillance equipment.
Roger Nordlund, the head of the provincial government of Åland, is pleased that the Finnish government is taking the demilitarised status of the province seriously.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 26.8.2004 - TODAY |
 Tighter scrutiny on movements of soldiers in autonomous Åland Islands |
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