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12 May 2022, 11:15

Finland's parliament will hold debates on country's possible NATO membership on May 16

Earlier, the majority of members of parliament spoke in favor of the country joining the bloc

STOCKHOLM, May 12. /TASS/. Finland's parliament will hold debates on May 16 on the prospects of the country's membership in NATO, Finnish parliament speaker Matti Vanhanen said on Thursday.

"The parliament is preparing to start a debate on the decision to join NATO on Monday (May 16) at 10:00 a.m. (coincides with the Moscow time - TASS)," the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper quoted him as saying.

According to a joint statement released on Thursday by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Finland is to apply for NATO membership without delay. A formal decision is expected to be made on Sunday, May 15.

In early April, discussions regarding Finland's possible accession to NATO intensified. The main members of the alliance supported this initiative. In Finland, the majority of members of parliament spoke in favor of the country joining the bloc. The Finnish president has previously stated that his country's possible accession to NATO is not directed against other countries, and the main purpose of this step is to strengthen national security.