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Ministry of Defence

Häkämies Defends His Right of Expression

Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies has defended his right to participate in debates on foreign and security policy issues. Häkämies said he disagreed with the view of President Tarja Halonen that the role of the Defence Minister was subservient to the country's foreign policy leadership.

He reminded that the Defence Minister was a permanent member of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, the decisions of which implement the common platform of the President and cabinet.

Last Saturday in an interview with YLE TV1, President Tarja Halonen stressed that under the constitution, the President is charged with leading foreign policy in cooperation with the cabinet.

Her comments came in reference to a recent speech by Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies in which he said that Finland's three security challenges are "Russia, Russia and Russia".

YLE