The May day festivities are now over and I'm stuck at the office. Not really the way I would like to spend this friday, but then again when was the last time I really got what I wanted. Last week I wanted the 4,7 million euros from the lottery but didn't get that eighter.
As the political tradition is, most of the parties make speeches at the May day just to remind people that it's all about the politics and not about the spring, booze and doughnuts. The speech that got the most attention was from the retiring head of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Eero Heinäluoma. The key note from his speech was that Finland will attend the NATO Crisis Management missions but will not join NATO if SDP is in the central goverment after the general election in 2011.
Of course we have to remember that Mr. Heinäluoma is the retiring head of SDP so what he says dosn't really have any political support after his resignation. Meaning that SDP could theoretically still support joining to the NATO. But that is a slim change and I'm guessing that it won't happen. Finland won't join the NATO if SDP is in the goverment.
The reason behind this posting is that I am wondering is it a smart move to make a such promise. Meaning that our next elections are held in the 2011 and a statement like that would direct the course of our country for seven years. That is an extrimely long time in a political world that is changing as rapidly as it is today. We have to remember that just yesturday Russia sent more troops to Abhasia and it's in Georgia, not in Russia.
I've always been really irritated about the phrase "Finland has no need to join the NATO at this current political climate". As it is a key phrase in Finnish politics and I can't belive people actually use it, as it's one of the stupidest things a politician can say. Joining NATO is same as buying an insurance. Nobody will sell you fire insurance when your house is already smoking. It's the same thing with NATO. How can we be sure that our application would be accepted when cruise missiles are already flying our way? I'm bringing the matter to a point, but you'll get the picture.
Also when saying that we have no need to join at this climate it also binds our hands in a different way. If Finland would suddenly apply the membership it would be a tremendous signal in the political world. Finland would feel itself threatened in some way. From what I know from the international diplomacy, that is a thing that you don't say. It would give a signal that we as an independent nation don't trust in our own defences and need help in the face of a crisis.
As we are an independent nation with one of the largest standing armies in the Europe, we have to be politically mature enough to see what is the best road for Finland. Is it in the same league as Georgia or Estonia?
Ei kommentteja:
Lähetä kommentti