Putin envoy warns Finland against joining NATO | Barentsobserver
▻http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2014/06/putin-envoy-warns-finland-against-joining-nato-09-06
“Does Finland want to start World War III,” asks the Russian President’s personal envoy Sergei Markov ahead of Lavrov´s visit to Turku.
“Anti-Semitism started World War II, Russophobia could start the third. Finland is one of the most russiphobian countries in Europe, together with Sweden and the Baltic states,” says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s personal envoy Sergei Markov, interviewed by Hufudstadsbladet this weekend.
The interview with Markov is made after Finland´s President Sauli Niinistö last week said a referendum would be required to change the country´s constitutionally neutral status before a possible NATO membership could be applied.
Finland is today, together with Sweden, members of NATO’s affiliate program known as the Partnership for Peace.
