The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen, says that Finland supports Kosovo on the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration and that they are strengthening security in Europe. In an interview for KosovaPress, while underlining that Kosovo has its rightful place in the EU, Valtonen said that they expect quick reforms and stability in the entire Western Balkans.

When the global situation is filled with various challenges, from the conflict in Ukraine and security threats to climate change, Valtonen shares Finland's perspective on foreign and security policy priorities.

She talks about Finland's role in NATO and the importance of international cooperation to address climate change.

"We stand by Kosovo's side, we do see that Kosova has its rightful place in the European Union and all the other organizations, I mean we very much are in favor of Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic integration, and indeed we do wish for the entire region of the Western Balkans that there was rapid reform which would, and also stability of causing the region which would allow for EU membership", she said.

Asked about the statements of the Russian minister, Sergei Lavrov, about the Third World War, the Finnish diplomat says that they reflect Russia's aggressive rhetoric. She underlines that they will ask Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

"We we are concerned by Russia's aggressive stance. Obviously, the full-scale war, they are waging against Ukraine, but also the increase in hybrid interference, basically across Europe but also elsewhere say in West Africa… Obviously nobody in the world hopes or wishes that the world war was near, and I guess this is very aggressive rhetoric from the Russians we have been used to over the course of the years. Having said this, of course, we don't neglect any threats coming out of Russia or anywhere else, but we just again would ask the Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, and start living a peaceful existence with its neighbors and the rest of the world", said the Finnish diplomat.

According to the Finnish Foreign Minister, commitment to the protection of fundamental values such as the rule of law, democracy and human rights, security and peace in Europe, are the main priorities of her country.

"Main priorities are indeed based on the values, which we have kept sacred over time, which is the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and equality. Based on those we implement our national foreign and security policy based on, obviously the circumstance we live in and unfortunately the war that is waging in Europe so effectively the war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine is very much dominating also our security environment, so increasing our defense and deterans together with allies and partners is obviously a number one, second thing is aiming for peace and stability in all of Europe, in order to be able to secure a future for all people based on the values of democracy and freedom, those are the core elements of that foreigner security policy", she said.

Minister Valtonen emphasizes the importance of Finland's membership in NATO.

"Finland rolling in NATO is significant, Finland and Sweden joint NATO in order to increase and improve the security situation in Europe, we're bringing our strong capabilities and even though our move was not directed against anybody, basically it was only made and I can speak for Finland with that 1300 kilometers of border with Russia. We made the move in order to enhance our security and that of our friends and allies and especially in order to safeguard those values we assured to adjust", said Valtonen.

She says she will show it to Finnish entrepreneurs that she has come across investment potential in Kosovo.

" I'm sure there's plenty we can do more, but already now, we are cooperating on so many fields, politically, in security, but especially in trade and investment and that's something where we definitely could increase our efforts on both sides. So obviously it's very nice to observer here in Prishtina and also elsewhere where I've been to see how rapid the development is, there is a lot of construction going on, so clearly, I mean, Finland has a lot of expertise in say energy efficient construction, mitigating climate change, so that would be definitely something we would like to assist in say we have top-notch expertise in elevators, so, I think there's plenty. So when I go back home, I'm just going to tell Finnish enterprises that there is a lot of potential to invest in here in Kosovo and we can definitely increase our interaction", she said.

Finland takes over the OSCE presidency next year, and Valtonen talks about priorities.

"We do see that, for instance, the role of the Western Balkans is significant, we will be assuming chairpersonship in the OSCE next year. So, very much focusing on the stability, security, and cooperation in Europe. Unfortunately, we keep observing this full scale aggression of Russia against not just its neighboring Ukraine, but many other countries especially in the hybrid side. But there are more than 50 participating states in the OSCE, who wish for nothing but a peaceful future of Europe, and also the adherence to international law, the UN Charter, and clearly the Helsinki principles. So that's the work we will be focusing on in the coming year. And we do see that Western Balkans play a significant role. We want to keep strengthening also our OSCE missions here, all the work we're doing from that side. But I said, support the countries in their Euro-Atlantic integration", said Valtonen.

Finally, the Finnish diplomat appeals for international cooperation in mitigating the effects of climate change.

“Climate change clearly is a significant concern for the entirety of the world and climate change indeed does not only mean climate warming even though I have learned that it's been quite a warm or even hot summer here in the Balkans this year. So, there's a lot of expertise, Finnish companies, for instance, can bring to the table for instance in predicting whether and climate change because I said, it's not just about warming, it's about increased volatility of conditions. So it makes it so much easier for humanity to adapt if there are prediction possibilities, and of course, what we need to do on a global scale is mitigate the effects of climate change, the effects it has on all of us. So, there we need to cooperate a lot", she concludes. /N. Jakupi