The prime ministers’ agenda included bilateral relations between the two countries, the security situation and other current international and EU issues. Recent events on Finland’s eastern border were also discussed.
PRIME MINISTER PETTERI ORPO (NCP) and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson met in Helsinki on Monday.
“Yesterday we had a dinner in my residence. We also went to sauna and even had a swim in the ice cold sea water, and it went well . . . congratulations!“ Orpo said at the press conference at the Government Banquet Hall in Helsinki on Monday afternoon, giving a gentle smile to his Swedish counterpart, who smiled back.
“This time, fortunately, he did not have to assemble any Ikea furniture,” Orpo added with a wink.
Then the Finnish prime minister’s tone shifted from high to low.
“The relationship between our countries is closer than ever,” Orpo said. “Finland’s priority is to have Sweden a member of NATO as soon as possible.”
Orpo emphasized that Finland has closed all “border stations on the eastern border except one.” “We are ready to close the last one, if needed.”
Orpo concluded his remarks by stressing that “Finland is protecting European Union’s external border and NATO border.”
“We will not let this phenomenon to continue.”
Prime Minister Kristersson commented on Russia’s recent action of sending asylum seekers without the necessary documents to the Finnish border “with the obvious aim to cause wider problems. To create fragmentation in Western countries.”
“Sweden strongly supports,” Kristersson said, “Finland’s measures taken to protect not only your border but also the EU external border. This is EU external border, and we have a common interest in all your efforts.”
