Intimidating threats towards Israel of tearing up UNSCR242.
The talk in Finnish politics about following the Swedish lead, started with the well known anti-Israel Finnish FM, Erkki Tuomioja (SDP), and whose ideas are shared with the Greens and the traditional Left, as well as having cross pollinated to some degree, within the ranks of the National Coalition (KOK). The real shining lights that can be trusted to buck that trend, are the Finns Party and Christian Democrats.
The chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, opposition Finns Party leader Timo Soini, was also abroad on Monday. In a text message to Yle’s Swedish-language news, he said that “Finland does not recognise administrations, only states”, adding that “I do not believe that Finland will recognise Palestine”. YLE
H/T: Vasara Hammer
Finland’s foreign policy leaders made no comment on Monday regarding the new Swedish prime minister’s pledge to recognise “the state of Palestine” – and are unlikely to follow his example.
Sweden – along with Ireland, Malta and Finland – are generally high up on the list of the EU countries who give Israel the toughest time inside various European institutions.
Tuomioja: Finland to follow Sweden in recognition of Palestine
The Nordic countries often end up with the same policies on the Middle East, which certainly also applies to the recognition of a Palestinian state, says the visiting Foreign Minister to Moscow, Erkki Tuomioja.
Tuomioja wants to emphasize, however, that Finland will make the decision themselves, even though the Nordic countries have been discussing the matter.
– We look at how the development of the whole Middle Eastern situation in general runs. The peace plan has not really progressed in anything he says to MTV3 in Moscow.
Foreign Minister gave no timetable for the possible recognition.
Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, Carl Magnus Nesser visited today the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Israel’s protest against Sweden’s decision.
According to the Israel, Sweden’s declaration exacerbates Israeli-Palestinian relations.
“The two-state talked about for over 20 years”
Swedish Foreign Minister Margaret Wahlstrom has a different view.
– The two-state solution began to be talked about for more than 20 years ago in the Oslo negotiations. It is high time to create a new dynamism and equal in terms of the circumstances, in order to move forward.
Wahlströn says that Sweden was waiting for Israel and the United States to protest the decision. According to her, Sweden has, however, received plenty of support for its decision around the world.
JANNE HOPSU MTV3
Räsänen complains: Swedish Palestine-alignment is ill-advised
Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen (kd). Believes that the new Swedish government alignment to recognize a Palestinian state is ill-advised.
Räsänen says in a statement that the Palestinian unilateral recognition of helping to resolve the Middle East crisis, but may even make it worse.
Räsänen says that peace can be achieved only through negotiations.
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP). Said yesterday that the Swedish confession may also affect Finnish policy. Tuomioja mulled over the possibility of a common alignment between the Nordic countries, but stressed that Finland was to make policies themselves.
Räsänen, the Middle East, the situation is good to have discussions with the other Nordic countries and other EU countries, but Finland’s negotiations should seek to promote a negotiated settlement.
– Finland will refrain from supporting the Palestinian unilateral declaration of independence. Instead, we should encourage the parties to the negotiating table and to refrain from violence.
