The historic journey has begun – Pekka Haavisto has a briefcase with him, the contents of which seal Finland's NATO membership
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto is on his way to the historic NATO meeting.
Pekka Haavistoa smiled on the NATO flight. Elle Laitilalauri.nurmi@iltalehti.fiTimo Nurilatimo.nurila@iltalehti.fiYesterday at 22:09
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (green) is on his way to Brussels with Finland's NATO documents in his briefcase. Iltalehti caught up with the satisfied foreign minister on the plane.
– It feels good. We are finishing the NATO process, Haavisto commented.
Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. Haavisto says that Turkey will deposit its own documents first, followed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberginvites Finland to become a member, and Finland gives a signed document.
– Perhaps Sweden's ratification can be achieved for the same reason.
Finland deposits its accession document to the NATO agreement with the US government tomorrow in Brussels before the start of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting.
When the NATO documents are handed over to US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, Finland will be a full member of NATO from that moment on.
According to Haavisto, Tuesday's ministerial meeting will start at 4 p.m.
– Let's hope that all formalities will be taken care of by then. I don't have an exact schedule here.
Finland's journey to becoming a NATO member has been a process of more than ten months for Haavisto.
– It has included a huge number of meetings and small moments of optimism and perhaps small moments of pessimism as well.
He considers it a wise decision that the parliament dealt with NATO membership in time, because otherwise the parliament should have been convened now for Easter.
– Easter can be spent in peace, Haavisto says with a smile.
Iltalehti reached Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on a plane. Office of the President: Niinistö leaves for Brussels on Tuesday – Finland will become a member of NATO 3.4. 14:19 Stoltenberg confirms: Finland will become a full member of NATO on Tuesday, April 3. 15:08 The pole is already ready – Soon the Finnish flag will be flying at the NATO headquarters 3.4. 13:50
