Скачать или смотреть Finnish defence chief on day of NATO accession

(4 Apr 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels - 4 April 2023
1. Wide of Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen outside NATO building
2. Wide of flags
3. Tracking of Kaikkonen approaching journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Antti Kaikkonen, Finnish Defence Minister:
"It's of course a big day for Finland and looking forward for the ceremonies and working a lot to get the full membership. Today is the day so it is a big day for Finland of course. I'd say it's a win-win situation - it's good for NATO also. But our next goal is of course to get our good neighbour Sweden to the full membership as well, so hopefully Sweden will be a full member of NATO soon as well."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Antti Kaikkonen, Finnish Defence Minister:
"Well we are open for discussions but the first step now is to get the full membership and what kind of role we will have in the future, that's the next thing to discuss. But I'm sure that Finland will be an active member of NATO in the future."
6. Wide of Kaikkonen leaving

STORYLINE:
Finland's Defence Minister said Tuesday was a "big day" for his country as it is set to officially become a member of NATO and take its place among the ranks of the world’s biggest security alliance.

"It is a big day for Finland of course. I'd say it's a win-win situation - it's good for NATO also," said Antti Kaikkoken as he arrived at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. "But our next goal is of course to get our good neighbour Sweden to the full membership as well."

Neighbouring Russia has already warned that it will bolster its defences near their joint border if NATO deploys any additional troops or equipment to what will be its 31st member country.

Finland’s blue and white flag is scheduled to be raised among those of its partners outside NATO’s Brussels headquarters. Finland’s president, foreign and defence ministers will take part.

The ceremony falls on NATO’s own birthday, the 74th anniversary of the signing of its founding Washington Treaty on April 4, 1949. It also coincides with a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers.

Alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, setting aside years of military nonalignment to seek protection under the organization’s security umbrella. Neighbouring Sweden also applied, but its accession process may take a few months longer.

Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre (832-mile) border with Russia, so its entry will more than double the size of NATO’s border with Russia. The move is a strategic and political blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion towards his country.

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