Prime Minister Marin believes that the consideration of Finland's application to join NATO may be greatly delayed - Halla—aho says that Finland should not be a "hostage" of Sweden
According to leading Finnish politicians, negotiations on the country's accession to NATO have reached an impasse, Yle reports. The situation is complicated by Helsinki's intention to join the Alliance in conjunction with Sweden, to which Turkey's main claims are addressed. Because of this, the process may take a year or more.
Terhi Toivonen
On June 13, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told Yle that negotiations on Finland's accession to NATO have stalled so much that "it is not surprising that there are no reports in the press about progress on this issue — because there is none."
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, in turn, said at a meeting of prime ministers - representatives of the Social Democratic parties of the Nordic countries that the process of Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO may be frozen if there is no progress before the summit in Madrid (to be held from June 28 to 30, approx. transl.).
Jussi Halla-aho, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, says that Finland will not be able to radically change the situation.
According to Halla-aho, communication with representatives of NATO countries paved the way for Finland's application to join the alliance. So Finns do not need to engage in self-flagellation and reproach themselves for being too gullible and naive.
"In this situation, Turkey is not the most reliable partner for negotiations," Halla-aho says.
Member of the parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (Elina Valtonen) says that Finland can only wait and be ready for negotiations when the contradictions weaken.
"Finland and Sweden are interested in negotiations, but there are some principles in which countries cannot show flexibility — for example, the principles of the rule of law and democracy," Valtonen emphasizes.
As Halla-aho says, Finland communicates with NATO countries, the NATO organization and Turkey to break the deadlock.
"I think we should cool down, negotiate and see what happens next. Mutual understanding on the issue of Finland and Sweden's accession has already been reached with many. Turkey has other interests in this situation," says Kimmo Kiljunen, a member of the parliamentary commission.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg treated Turkey's actions with respect at a discussion forum in Kultaranta.
Halla-aho, Valtonen and Kiljunen believe that from the standpoint of diplomacy, Stoltenberg's words can be quite understood.
It is important for the NATO Secretary General to take into account the security concerns of a NATO member country. The views of Western countries and Turkey on the Kurdish groups operating in Syria differ. They help Western countries to fight ISIS*, but for Turkey, these organizations are associated with the banned Kurdish PKK organization.
Valtonen: political support at the NATO summit in Madrid is provided
Initially, negotiations on the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO were supposed to begin before the NATO summit in Madrid, which is due to take place at the end of June. Now that seems unlikely.
On June 14, The Guardian reported that Turkey was threatening to delay the process of Finland and Sweden joining NATO for a year.
Halla-aho, Valtonen and Kiljunen still believe that at some stage the situation will get better.
Elina Valtonen emphasizes that the Alliance should also be interested in the successful admission of Finland and Sweden into its ranks. She hopes that an important political statement will be made at the Madrid summit in support of the inclusion of countries in NATO.
"Let's see if it is possible to create such a "group impact". We are talking about weeks, and our position is unlikely to change much," she says.
Kiljunen also believes that the stagnation in this issue is unlikely to last very long, because it does not correspond to the interests of Turkey.
According to Halla-aho, Turkey wants to get something, first of all, from NATO and the United States.
"I think Turkey will now resolve all the issues with which it had some grievances, and will want progress on these issues at least partially. We are talking about the position of the West regarding Kurdish organizations and arms sales," he says.
According to Halla-aho, Turkey also wants to be recognized as a major power in its region and given some kind of immunity in matters of Syrian operations.
According to Kiljunen, Turkey wants to take a new position in relations with the United States.
"Turkey claims that it has not received F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment, like many other NATO countries. Turkey also hopes for greater freedom of action to ensure security in its immediate environment."
According to Valtonen, the situation in Turkey's domestic policy may affect the country's foreign policy. The elections will be held in a year, and the opposition has become so strong that it can challenge the current leadership.
Halla-aho: Finland should not associate its decision with the actions of Sweden
The Finnish leadership has firmly linked the applications of Finland and Sweden. Finland has been saying all spring that the countries will join the alliance only together.
Charly Salonius-Pasternak, a leading researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Relations UPI, considered it a mistake that the Finnish foreign policy leadership deprives the country of the opportunity to join NATO without Sweden. Of course, such a development is unlikely and undesirable.
According to many experts, Turkey's demands were addressed primarily to Sweden, not Finland.
If Finland gets the opportunity to join NATO before Sweden, is it worth using this opportunity?
According to Jussi Halla-aho, Finland needs to make a decision about its security on its own.
"I think Finland should not depend on Sweden, because our situations differ from the point of view of security policy," Halla—aho says.
He recalls that the strategic positions of Finland and Sweden differ. Sweden does not have a common border with Russia with a length of 1300 kilometers.
"It's easy to forget when someone says that fate unites us in many ways. I think Finland should not depend on what Sweden is doing, although everyone wants the countries to move in the same direction and in the same rhythm."
Elina Valtonen does not rule out that Finland will join NATO on its own if the process is excessively prolonged.
"Then we can look at the situation anew," Valtonen says.
At the moment, Finland and Sweden should still stick together.
"Let's hope that we will reach the finish line. It will not be easy if one country joins the alliance and the other does not. Both Finland and Sweden have decided to join NATO, and we have close cooperation in the field of defense. There can be no concerns about security issues," Valtonen says.
Elina Valtonen makes a reference to Finland's strong defense and the obligations of partner countries in security matters.
Kimmo Kiljunen, however, considers the decision of the Finnish leadership to join NATO together with Sweden to be correct.
"The decision to join NATO without Sweden would put us in the position of a peripheral state. We would return to the political situation of the 1920s. This is not in the interests of Finland. In my opinion, this is the only right decision," Kiljunen emphasizes.
* a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation
