NATO Secretary General: We welcome the request of Finland and Sweden to join NATO

 

NATO Secretary General: We welcome the request of Finland and Sweden to join NATO

 NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday (April 16th) that members of the alliance would welcome Finland and Sweden's request to join, but that such a decision rests with the two countries.

"Of course, it is up to these countries to decide whether to apply to join NATO, but the 30 member states will welcome their accession," said Jens Stoltenberg.

"NATO will find solutions to the two countries' possible concerns during the transition period, between submitting a membership application and approving it," he added.

Stoltenberg refers to possible retaliatory actions by Russia before the final acceptance of Finland and Sweden's membership in NATO.

In another part of his press conference on Tuesday, the NATO Secretary General predicted that as Russia continues to withdraw from the area around Kiev, more crimes will be discovered by its forces against civilians.

"We have not seen all the incidents that have taken place because most of the area around the capital is still under the control of Russian forces," he said. "But unfortunately I have to say that after the withdrawal of Russian forces and the recapture of these areas by Ukraine, more cases of mass graves and war crimes will be discovered."

Mr Stoltenberg dismissed Russia's claim that "Ukraine was staging the crimes" and said that the crimes took place when the territories were under Russian occupation and that information gathered from various sources confirmed the crimes.

The NATO Secretary General added that a meeting of foreign ministers of the member states on Wednesday and Thursday will consider sending more weapons to Ukraine.

"We mean advanced weapons systems such as the Javelin and other anti-tank weapons," Mr Stoltenberg said.

He added that the meeting would also discuss the delivery of "highly advanced" ammunition, medical equipment and supplies, and weapons.