PM: No Need to Raise Defence Spending

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen says the Georgian crisis is no reason to raise Finland's defence budget.

During a YLE Radio News interview hour on Sunday, the premier said that nothing has happened that necessitates a change in basic defence policy or financing.

Vanhanen also downplayed recent pro-NATO comments by Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. He said they reflect Stubb's own conservative political background and not Finland's official view.

On Monday, Vanhanen, Stubb and President Tarja Halonen are all to attend the EU's emergency summit in Brussels aimed at agreeing on a bloc-wide response to the Georgia-Russia conflict.

Tuomioja Warns Sweden

Former foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja agrees that no major changes are needed in Finland's defence policy.

Interviewed on YLE's Radio 1 on Sunday, Tuomioja, who now chairs the Parliament's Grand Committee, predicted that Sweden, which has cut back sharply on its defence expenditures, will have to reconsider the move in light of recent developments in Georgia.