フィンランド、ＮＡＴＯ加盟「速やかに申請」

【ヘルシンキＡＦＰ＝時事】フィンランドのサウリ・ニーニスト大統領とサンナ・マリン首相は１２日、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）への加盟を支持すると表明した。（写真はフィンランド・ニウヤマーにあるフィンランドとロシアの国境検問所 資料写真）
　大統領と首相は共同声明で「ＮＡＴＯへの加盟は、フィンランドの安全保障を強化するだろう。フィンランドは加盟国として、ＮＡＴＯ全体を強化するだろう。フィンランドは速やかにＮＡＴＯへの加盟を申請すべきだ」と述べた。また、公式発表が１５日に行われることも明らかにした。
　フィンランド議会の国防委員会は１１日、ロシアのウクライナ侵攻が欧州の安全保障を脅かしているとして、自国の安全保障にとってＮＡＴＯ加盟が「最善の選択」になるだろうと結論付けた。議員の大多数もＮＡＴＯ加盟を支持している。
　隣国スウェーデンもＮＡＴＯへの加盟を検討しており、両国が歩調を合わせて加盟申請を表明するとの見方も広がっている。
　正式な加盟申請が行われると、ＮＡＴＯに加盟する全３０か国の議会で承認を得る必要があり、これには数か月を要する可能性がある。
　フィンランドのペッカ・ハービスト外相は１０日、「ＮＡＴＯ事務総長はこの過程に４～１２か月かかると述べた。私の印象では、１２か月というより４か月に近いだろう」と述べ、早ければ１０月１日にもＮＡＴＯへの加盟が実現するとの見通しを示した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/05/13-10:23）

Finland's president and prime minister said on Thursday they were in favour of joining NATO and a formal decision would be taken this weekend, after Russia's war in Ukraine sparked a swift U-turn in opinion.
The Kremlin immediately responded to the announcement, saying it would have to take military-technical steps if Finland joined the Western military alliance, which would definitely pose a threat to Russia.
The expansion of NATO and the approach of the alliance to our borders does not make the world and our continent more stable and secure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Several NATO members, including the US, Germany, Norway, Denmark and Poland, welcomed Finland's move.
Neighbouring Sweden, which like Finland has been militarily non-aligned for decades, is also expected to announce its decision on NATO membership in the coming days.
That decision will very likely come at a meeting on Sunday of Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's Social Democratic Party.
The two countries are widely expected to submit their membership bids in unison.
Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay, President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement.
NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance, the statement said.
A special committee will announce Helsinki's formal decision on a membership bid on Sunday, it added.
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Vladimir Putin didn't want a strong NATO on his western flank. He's getting that, adding that the Swedish and Finnish militaries may be small, but they are powerful.
Moscow has repeatedly warned Stockholm and Helsinki of consequences if they were to join the alliance.
Joining NATO would not be against anyone, Niinisto, who has often served as a mediator between Russia and the West, told reporters on Wednesday.
To Russia, he would say: You caused this. Look in the mirror, he said.
In a blog post later Thursday, Niinisto struck a conciliatory note, writing: Russia is and will remain Finland's border neighbour. It must continue to be able to handle practical matters with it.
As recently as January, amid tensions between the West and Russia, Marin said a NATO bid would be very unlikely during her current mandate, which ends in April 2023.
- Rattled by war -
But after its powerful eastern neighbour invaded Ukraine on February 24, Finland's political and public opinion swung dramatically in favour of membership as a deterrent against Russian aggression.
A poll published on Monday by public broadcaster Yle showed that a record 76 percent of Finns now support joining the alliance, up from the steady 20-30 percent registered in recent years.
A country of 5.5 million people, Finland shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia.
In 1939, it was invaded by the Soviet Union.
Finns put up a fierce fight during the Winter War but were ultimately forced to cede a huge stretch of its eastern Karelia province in a peace treaty with Moscow.
Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen said Thursday on his blog he hoped Sweden would come to the same conclusion and we could apply for membership together.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Finland's decision is naturally of great importance to Sweden and said her government would announce its decision soon.
- 'Swift' process to join -
There has been broad political support for NATO membership in Finland, amid a general view that Russia's invasion has eroded the security situation in Europe.
Finns questioned by AFP after Thursday's announcement were also unanimous in their support.
We stood alone in 1939, we don't want to stand alone again, said Nick Paterson, a 56-year-old entrepreneur.
It's very important that the leaders of our country are on the same page and I think it was a good decision, said Ville Laakso, a 31-year-old lawyer.
Finland and Sweden have long cooperated with NATO, and are expected to be able to join the alliance quickly.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday Finland's entry would be smooth and swift.
Finland's next step is a meeting on Sunday of a special committee made up of the president, prime minister and up to six other cabinet ministers. It will make the formal decision whether to submit a Finnish application.
The proposal will then be presented to parliament for a debate on Monday.
After an official bid is submitted to the alliance, negotiations get underway. Lawmakers in all 30 NATO member states then need to ratify Finland's application, a process that can take up to a year.
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Tuesday he believed Finland could be a full NATO member at the earliest on October 1.