Page 29 - bon-dia-aruba-20220513

A29
world news Diabierna 13 Mei 2022

Finland’s leaders call for NATO membership ‘without delay’

(AP) — Finland’s leaders “You (Russia) caused this.
said Thursday they’re in Previously, the Kremlin had Look in the mirror,” the
favor of rapidly applying warned of “military and po- Finnish head of state said
for NATO membership, litical repercussions” if Swe- Wednesday.
paving the way for a his- den and Finland decided to
toric expansion of the al- become a NATO member. On Thursday, Niinisto tweet-
liance that could deal a se- Should they seek to join the ed that he spoke with Ukrai-
rious blow to Russia as its alliance, there would be an nian President Volodymyr
military struggles with its interim period lasting from Zelenskyy about Finland’s
war in Ukraine. when the applications are firm support for Ukraine
submitted until ratification and the country’s intention
The annoucement by Presi- by lawmakers in all 30 exist- to join NATO. Niinisto said
dent Sauli Niinisto and ing member nations. Zelenskyy “expressed his full
Prime Minister Sanna Marin support for it.”
means that Finland is all but In NATO member Estonia,
certain to join the Western which also borders Russia, In 2017, Sweden and Finland
military alliance, though a Prime Minister Kaja Kallas joined the British-led Joint ducted by Finnish public avoid provoking the Soviet
few steps remain before the tweeted that “history being Expeditionary Force, which broadcaster YLE showed Union, instead opting to re-
application process can be- made by our northern neigh- is designed to be more flex- earlier this week that 76% of main a neutral buffer be-
gin. Neighboring Sweden is bors.” She pledged to support ible and respond more quick- Finns are in favor of joining tween the East and the West
expected to decide on seeking “a rapid accession process” ly than the larger NATO alli- NATO, a big change from while maintaining good rela-
NATO membership in com- for Finland into NATO. ance. The force uses NATO earlier years when only 20- tions with Moscow and also
ing days. standards and doctrine so it 30% of respondents favored with the United States.
Swedish Foreign Minister can operate in conjunction such military alignment.
Russia reacted to the devel- Ann Linde tweeted that Fin- with the alliance, the United NATO Secretary-General
opment with a warning. The land’s announcement gave an Nations or other multina- Speaking to European Union Jens Stoltenberg has said the
Russian Foreign Ministry “important message.” tional coalitions. lawmakers Thursday as Ni- military alliance would wel-
said in a statement that Fin- inisto and Marin made their come Finland and Sweden —
land joining NATO would Finland’s announcement Fully operational since 2018, announcement, Finnish For- both of which have strong,
“inflict serious damage to came a day after British the force has held a number eign Minister Pekka Haavisto modern militaries — with
Russian-Finnish relations as Prime Minister Boris John- of exercises both indepen- said that Russia’s unpredict- open arms and that he ex-
well as stability and security son visited both Finland and dently and in cooperation able behavior was a serious pects the accession process to
in Northern Europe.” Sweden to sign a military co- with NATO. concern for Finland. He cited be speedy and smooth.
operation agreement. Moscow’s readiness to wage
Before the ministry issued its Russia’s aggression in “high-risk operations” that NATO officials say the Nor-
statement, Kremlin spokes- The U.K. pledged Wednes- Ukraine prompted Finland could lead to many casualties, dic duo’s accession process
man Dmitry Peskov said day to come to the aid of and Sweden to reconsider including among Russians. could be done “in a couple of
Finland’s decision wouldn’t Sweden and Finland if the their traditions of military weeks.” The most time con-
help stability and security in two Nordic nations came un- nonalignment and to con- Should Finland become a suming part of the procedure
Europe. Peskov said Russia’s der attack. template joining NATO it- NATO member, it would – ratification of the coun-
response would depend on self. Public opinion in the represent the biggest change try’s protocol by the existing
NATO’s moves to expand its During a joint news confer- two countries quickly start- in the Nordic country’s de- NATO members – could be
infrastructure closer to Rus- ence with Johnson in Hel- ed to shift toward favoring fense and security policy completed in less time than
sian borders. sinki this week, Niinisto said membership, first in Finland since World War II, when the four or so months it took
Moscow could only blame and a bit later in Sweden, af- it fought against the Soviet West Germany, Turkey and
Finland has the longest bor- itself should his nation of ter Russia invaded Ukraine Union. Greece to join in the 1950s,
der with Russia out of all the 5.5 million people become a on Feb. 24. when there were only 12
European Union’s 27 mem- NATO member. During the Cold War, Finland members to ratify their ap-
bers. The latest opinion poll con- stayed away from NATO to plications.

Protesters vent fury at French company for staying in Russia

(AP) — A man in a Russian equipment with spring’s ar- sible for the war. It’s among per month in sales from Rus-
military uniform stood at the His chest bedecked with rival. Some shoppers turned the foreign companies with sia and expects to lose $100
entrance of a large home im- medals, Polish activist Arka- around to go elsewhere. Oth- a large footprint in Russia million worth of inventory
provement store in Poland’s diusz Szczurek was protest- ers were indifferent or irri- that have had to choose be- because of store closures. En-
capital, saluting shoppers and ing at a French-owned re- tated. tween taking the financial hit ergy company Shell says it’s
thanking them for funding tailer Leroy Merlin store in of leaving or face damage to taking a $3.9 billion charge
Russian President Vladimir Warsaw as shoppers flocked “Millions of Ukrainians are their reputation by staying. to cover the cost of exiting
Putin’s war in Ukraine. to buy plants and gardening forced to flee the bombs and investments in Russia, while
shooting, (and) people are It is a painful choice for com- rival BP said it’s taking $25.5
dying,” Ukrainian activist panies based in countries like billion in pretax charges to
Natalia Panchenko said at the France and Italy, which do exit its holdings in Russian
rally last weekend. “But they extensive business in Russia energy producer Rosneft.
keep doing business and see and are keeping their sights
no problem with financing on future trade once the war Other companies are still
the war.” is over. However, many cor- partially operating in Russia.
porations with big stakes in PepsiCo, Nestle and drug-
It marked the latest protest Russia have pulled out and maker Johnson & Johnson
in Poland over Leroy Mer- are enduring the hit to their are still supplying essentials
lin’s decision to keep oper- bottom lines. like medications and baby
ating 112 stores in Russia, formula while halting nones-
even as many other Western McDonald’s closed its 850 sential sales. Italian tiremaker
companies have suspended stores in Russia in March, but Pirelli and Danish brewer
operations there. Leroy Mer- is still paying its 62,000 em- Carlsberg say they are oper-
lin wouldn’t comment other ployees. The fast-food chain ating just enough to support
than to say it’s not respon- said it’s losing $55 million their Russian workers.