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Finland will be warmly welcomed into NATO if it decides to apply — Stoltenberg

The Secretary General noted that Finland was one of NATO's closest partners and made an important contribution to Euro-Atlantic security

TASS, May 12. Finland will be warmly welcomed into NATO if it decides to apply for membership in the alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"Should Finland decide to apply, they would be warmly welcomed into NATO, and the accession process would be smooth and swift," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Stoltenberg noted that Finland is one of NATO's closest partners and makes an important contribution to Euro-Atlantic security.

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.