Haavisto, Linde discuss possible bid for NATO membership in Helsinki

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto on Friday met with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde in Helsinki and discussed various aspects of the possible NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) membership application by both the neighbouring countries.

They also discussed about the present situation in Ukraine following Russia´s attack and overall security situation in Europe and the Nordic region.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting the Finnish Foreign Minister hoped that Finland and Sweden could follow the same timetable regarding the possible NATO membership application.

The Swedish Foreign Minister told at the press conference that they will hold discussions among the political parties and analyse the results on May 13 before taking decision in this regard.

“NATO will ensure the possible smooth process with its open-door policy. If we apply, the application must be ratified by all the 30 NATO member states and the process may take four to twelve months,” Haavisto said replying to a query regarding security guarantees in the interim period before the possible membership application.

Replying to the same query, Linden pointed out close cooperation between Finland and Sweden effective in this regard.

“Visit today to Helsinki for a meeting with close colleague and friend Haavisto for discussions on the security situation in Europe. Continued close dialogue between Sweden and Finland is crucial,” Linden wrote in her twitter after the meeting.

“Again, a very good discussion with Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine as well as European security situation. A thorough discussion on respective security policy processes, including possible Nato membership,” Haavisto wrote in the twitter page of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs after the meeting.

Both the Foreign Ministers at the press conference strongly condemned the explosions at Kyiv's Shevchenkovsky district during the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.