Speaking alongside her Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson, at a joint press conference in Stockholm, Marin said Finland had to be “prepared for all kinds of actions from Russia” and that “everything had changed” when Moscow attacked Ukraine.“The difference between being a partner and a member is very clear, and will remain so. There is no other way to have security guarantees than under Nato’s deterrence and common defence as guaranteed by the alliance’s article 5,” she said.Article 5, the 30-member alliance’s collective defence cornerstone, states that an attack on one Nato member is an attack on all. It has only been invoked once in the organisation’s history, in response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
‘Whole security landscape’ changed with Russian invasion of Ukraine, say leaders at joint press conference
Finland and Sweden took a major step towards joining Nato on Wednesday, after their prime ministers said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had changed Europe’s “whole security landscape” and “dramatically shaped mindsets” in the Nordic countries.
The Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin, said on Wednesday that her country, which shares a 1,300km (810-mile) border with Russia, would decide whether to apply to join the alliance “quite fast, in weeks not months”, despite the risk of infuriating Moscow.
Russia has repeatedly warned both countries against joining Nato and would see any such move as a provocation. The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has said that if Finland and Sweden entered Nato, Russia would have to “rebalance the situation” with its own measures.
Speaking alongside her Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson, at a joint press conference in Stockholm, Marin said Finland had to be “prepared for all kinds of actions from Russia” and that “everything had changed” when Moscow attacked Ukraine.“The difference between being a partner and a member is very clear, and will remain so. There is no other way to have security guarantees than under Nato’s deterrence and common defence as guaranteed by the alliance’s article 5,” she said.Article 5, the 30-member alliance’s collective defence cornerstone, states that an attack on one Nato member is an attack on all. It has only been invoked once in the organisation’s history, in response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
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Andersson said there was “no point” in delaying analysis of whether it was right for Sweden to apply for Nato membership. “There is a before and after 24 February,” she said, referring to the date on which Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. “This is a very important time in history. The security landscape has completely changed. We have to analyse the situation to see what is best for Sweden’s security, for the Swedish people, in this new situation.”
A Finnish government white paper, released on Wednesday, on the country’s “fundamentally changed” security environment made no recommendation on Nato but will serve as the basis for a parliamentary debate after Easter.
“I think people’s mindsets in Finland, also in Sweden, changed and were shaped very dramatically by Russia’s actions,” Marin said. “This is very clear and that caused a need for a process in Finland to have a discussion about our own security choices.”
She said Finland needed “to be very frank about consequences and the risks. There are both short-term and more long-term risks. These risks are there both if we apply and if we do not apply.”
A recent opinion poll showed 68% of Finnish respondents were in favour of joining the alliance, more than double the figure before the invasion, with only 12% against. Polling in Sweden suggests a slim majority of Swedes now also back membership.
Both countries are officially non-aligned militarily, but became Nato partners – taking part in exercises and exchanging intelligence – after abandoning their previous stance of strict neutrality when they joined the EU in 1995 after the end of the cold war.
Finland declared independence in 1917 after more than a century of Russian rule, and its heavily outnumbered army twice fought off Soviet forces during the second world war before ceding some border territory. Sweden has not fought a war for 200 years.
Sweden’s ruling centre-left Social Democrats, led by Andersson, this week began debating whether the country should drop its opposition to joining Nato, abandoning a decades-long belief that peace was best kept by not publicly choosing sides.
The question is expected to be a key issue in parliamentary elections on 11 September, with centre-right opposition parties already saying they would back a Nato application and the far-right Sweden Democrats also open to the idea.
Many commentators expect the two Nordic nations to act in tandem on whether to join, although Finland – widely seen as likely to apply before a Nato summit in Madrid scheduled for June – looks closer than Sweden.
A Swedish security policy review is expected to be completed before the end of May and Andersson has said she will await its outcome before making any decisions. However, a positive Finnish decision would put pressure on Sweden to follow suit.
Both countries have received public assurances from the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, that their applications would be welcome, as well as expressions of support from members including the US, UK, Germany and France. Any membership application must be accepted by all 30 Nato states, which could take four months to a year.
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ABOUT PUBLIC OPINIONS
Public Opinions was founded by Makerere University students in 2004 in Lumumba Hall Makerere University and it operated as a study group on students welfare as well as Networking.
In 2008 it was incorporated as a company Limited by Guarantee by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Public Opinions work towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
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MILESTONES/SOME ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUBLIC OPINIONS
- In 2009, Public Opinions organised a High Level United NATIONS Millennium Development Goals Dialogue at Hotel Africa Kampala and it attracted stakeholders from the Public and Private Sector, Religious Leaders and Diplomats.
- In 2009, Public Opinions organised 5 Small and Medium Enterprises Sessions for Youth Leaders such as at Gretton Hotel in Masaka which was addressed by Brig David Muhoozi who was commander of the Armoury Brigade in Masaka. Others Speakers included Prof Maggie Kigozi, Ambassador of ICELAND to UGANDA, Dr Kassim Omar who was Director of East Africa Business Council,etc. The Luwero SMEs Sessions for Youth Leaders organised by Public Opinions was presided over by Katikiro of Buganda JB Walusimbi and Hajji Abdul Nadduli.
- In 2010, Public Opinions organised the Buganda Youth Leaders Conference on wealth Creation. The conference was held at Katikomu Country Hotel in Kayunga and it was presided over by the Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi who was the minister for Security and Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).It was attended by youth leaders from Central Region. Key speakers were from Uganda Investment Authority and Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID).
- In 2011,Public Opinions organised a Kampala Wealth Creation Awareness Conference for Youth Leaders
- In 2012,Public Opinions organised the 2012 Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
- In 2012,Public Opinions organised the Uganda Who is Who Summit at imperial Royale Hotel and launched a book titled Uganda Who is Who Book of Records launched by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
- In 2013, Public Opinions organised the Pearl of Africa Lfetime Achievement Award (PALITA Award) in which over 80 High Profile Personalities were awarded and inducted in the Uganda Who is who Book of Records. Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Presided over.
- In 2014, Public Opinions organised the 2014 High Level Uganda Responsible Investmen Summit and Award Ceremony in which 50 Responsible Investments were awarded. The Ceremony was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon Amama Mbababazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Prof Emmanuel Mutebile Governor Bank of Uganda.
- In 2017,Public Opinions recognised the Embassy of Italy to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation Award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of Italy .
- In 2017, Public Opinions recognised the European Union Delegation to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of European Union Delegation to Uganda
- In November 2017,Public Opinions recognised the University of Bologna in Italy with the Global Sustainable Development Award as the oldest continuing University in the world. The Award was received by the Rector University of Bologna in his Office in the city of Bologna in Italy. This was followed with a meeting between Rector University of Bologna and Luzindana adam Buyinza Team Leader of Public Opinions.
- In 2018,Public Opinions in partnership with the Asia Africa Development Council in new Delhi India organised the Asia Africa Development Summit in New Delhi Republic of India.
- In 2016, Public Opinions and Computer Society of India together with Asia Africa development Council organised the India-Africa ICT Summit. The summit was held in New Delhi Capital of the Republic of India.
- On 22nd November 2019, Public Opinions held a High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Hon Evelyn Anite Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation. During the Summit, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was declared the Uganda Peace and Development Champion by Public Opinions and 62 Uganda Responsible Investments were recognised with the 2019 Uganda Responsible Investment Award (URI Award).
- With the Outbreak of the Global Pandemic the COVID 19, Public Opinions participated in mass social media and field based Public Awareness and Advisory service to senstise the people of Uganda on COVID 19,How its transmitted and how Ugandans can stay Safe.
Since its founding in 2004, Public Opinions as been involved in mass information dissemination across the country,Public Awareness,Research,Training and mentorship of young people and in communities, Business Advisory services to small and medium enterprises in trading centres, etc.
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