Moscow will appreciate if Helsinki refrains from deployment of NATO troops on its territory: Lawmaker

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Moscow will appreciate if Finland does not deploy NATO troops on its territory, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Friday.

Norway also joined NATO but did not provide its territory for foreign military presence, Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's former envoy to the EU and currently a member of the Russian upper chamber of parliament, the Council of Federation, told the state-run TASS news agency.

"We have no conflict with Finland. First, they may change their mind and withdraw from NATO. Secondly, they can have their own terms of NATO membership, as the Norwegians did at the time. Norway had a unilateral commitment -- not to conduct any NATO maneuvers behind certain northern parallels, and not to allow a foreign military presence on Norwegian territory at all. If Finland undertakes such obligations as a member of NATO, it will be appreciated by the Russian side," he said.

Chizhov said Russia will decide on the retaliatory measures based on actions by Finland, which became member of the NATO military alliance earlier this week.

He recalled that the Russia-NATO Founding Act (NRFA), which suggests non-deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of new members, is still in force.

Chizhov argued that Poland's calls on the US to set up a division on its territory is also against the NRFA.

"I hope that an American division will not appear on the territory of Finland," Chizhov said, adding that the Russian military is well aware of the potential of the Finnish army.