Parliament Foreign and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mika Niiko’s tweets on Ukraine and NATO gathered criticism in the opening debate: “Thoughtless and dangerous”

Committee on Foreign Affairs the President Mika Niikon (ps) Opinion on Ukraine and NATO gathered criticism in the opening debate in parliament on Tuesday.

Niikko was criticized for summarizing anti-Finnish thinking in a tense security policy situation.

“In this Chamber, everyone, including the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, should internalize that blocking the agreements between the great powers of the great powers is a fundamental starting point for Finnish freedom,” said the chairman of the Coalition’s parliamentary group. Kai Mykkänen.

Chairman of the Center Group Parliamentary Group Juha Pylväs for its part, said that after Niiko’s tweet, the line of basic Finns in foreign and security policy raises questions.

“Is your line really the representative thinking of Representative Niiko?” he asked.

“The downtown parliamentary group believes that each country decides independently on its own solutions.”

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Niikko suggested On Twitter on Tuesdaythat the President of France Emmanuel Macronin or someone else should now “step into the public eye and say that Ukraine will not join NATO”.

“Otherwise, the negotiations failed from Russia’s point of view and the consequences are dire. Isn’t there one wise principal in the West who knows Russia? ”

Niikko later deleted his tweet. He also clarified his view, noting to the BTI that he was of the opinion that every independent state was free to apply for NATO membership.

Russia has demanded that no new countries from Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, join NATO. The United States and NATO have refused to make promises to stop NATO’s proliferation. Finland has also emphasized that it will retain the opportunity to apply for NATO membership.

Basic Finns Congressman Sakari Park answered questions from the Center Pylva about the line of basic Finns. He quoted his own group speech from last June, when the foreign and security policy report was discussed.

“I said at the outset that we support close and sustained parliamentary cooperation in foreign and security policy and are ready to support the foreign policy line set out in the report,” Puisto said.

Member of the Social Democrats Mika Kari for his part, he said that Niiko’s tweet has caused “understandable concern about whether the Basic Finns are the guarantor of the foreign and security policy line of the President of the Republic.”

He wanted an answer from Niiko “today, in this hall, under the eyes of the people.”

Member of the Center Joonas Könttä rebuked Niikko for flirting with lobbying, which is “thoughtless and dangerous.”

“What if we talked about the fate of Finland like this? What if it were decided on behalf of Finland, which interests do we belong to? We know from history that the path of such a policy is not desirable, and we should not steer other independent states on such a path by foreign policy leadership, ”he said.

Already earlier in the day the chairman of the basic Finns Riikka Purra commented on Niiko’s statement to HS, stating that “of course, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee is not in favor of going to put such things on Twitter.”

The matter will be discussed at a group meeting of basic Finns on Thursday, the chairman of the parliamentary group said Ville Tavio.

Parliamentary debate began with the Prime Minister’s announcement, in which the Prime Minister Sanna Marin (sd) opened government policy in the current year.

He also commented on the tense security situation in Europe.

“Tensions in the vicinity of Ukraine have not diminished and the situation is serious,” he said.

“If Russia takes new military action against Ukraine, it must be prepared to respond with substantial sanctions.”

According to Marin, the main responsibility for alleviating the situation lies with Russia, and a solution must be actively sought through diplomacy.

Marin stated that the basic line of Finland’s foreign and security policy is stable and clear to everyone. He also called for an open debate on foreign and security policy in Parliament.

Marin did not take a direct position on Niiko’s speeches.

“We politicians have a big responsibility for how we use our words. Democracy involves different opinions and the most rapid expression of them. However, I hope that in this part-session we can respect each other, talk constructively and listen to each other better, ”he said.