NATO headquarters building in Brussels. File photoHELSINKI, May 12 Finnish President and Prime Minister Sauli Niiniste and Sanna Marin jointly announce their position on possible accession to the North Atlantic Defense Alliance.
"President Sauli Niiniste and Prime Minister Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday, at 10.00, will jointly announce their position on NATO", writes the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, citing the office of the Finnish head.
The joint position of the president and prime minister is likely to be published in a press release, as Prime Minister Marin is currently on an official visit to Japan, the publication specifies. «The joint statement of the president and prime minister on Thursday will be the first official sign that that Finland is applying to join NATO,” the report says. According to the newspaper, the Center parliamentary group (the party is part of the government coalition) will announce on Thursday that it is in favor of Finland joining NATO. Until now, the party has only stated that it supports the government's policy. Marin will announce his position on Saturday. According to the publication, the actual decision on the application to the North Atlantic Alliance will be made by the president and government on Sunday, May 15. On Monday, the Finnish parliament will discuss this issue, and Finland will inform NATO that it is ready to receive an invitation become a member of the organization, clarifies the publication. Both Finland and Sweden are striving to ensure that countries apply to join NATO jointly and as quickly as possible. Most likely, this will happen early next week, the newspaper emphasizes. What will happen if the Swedes and Finns join an alliance