May 20, 200520 yr From DefenseNews Finland Accuses Russia of Numerous Airspace Violations By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, HELSINKI Russia has repeatedly violated neighboring Finland’s airspace despite official protests from Helsinki, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs said May 20. Russian military planes flying to or from Kaliningrad, situated on the Baltic Sea near the Polish border, have illegally entered Finnish airspace on numerous occasions over recent months, the ministry claimed. “Violations have continued despite the fact that Russian authorities have been approached and a cessation of violations has been demanded,” the ministry said in a statement. At least 10 violations have occurred, mainly over the Gulf of Finland, according to unconfirmed reports from private television station MTV3. “This will be further discussed at a political level,” ministry spokeswoman Tina Nikkinen told Agence France-Presse. “(Prime Minister Matti) Vanhanen will take up the issue when he goes to Russia.”
Create an account or sign in to comment