The 1921 Åland Agreement remains an important agreement to ensure stability in the Baltic Sea region, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö said on Wednesday at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Åland Non-Fortress and Neutralization Treaty.
"The Åland Islands Agreement is a stabilizing force for peace in the Åland Islands. It is not a historical relic, but a living being and a much-needed treaty for the Baltic Sea region," said Niinistö.
October 20 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the agreement on the demilitarization and neutralization of Åland by the member states of the League of Nations, according to which Finland also had to guarantee the Swedish language tradition, the local culture of the island and its system. autonomy.
The question of Åland’s independence led to an almost open conflict between Finland and Sweden more than a hundred years ago, as Niinistö mentioned in his speech.
"I am pleased to say that a problem that was once at risk of conflict has been successfully resolved in a win-win situation," Niinistö said and added that the Åland Convention has a strong basis for international law and that Finland will continue to work to ensure that the international system that supports the agreement remains strong in the future.
Bad weather prevents the president from attending in person
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Robert Rydberg and the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Green) also spoke at the event. The topics were the international significance of demilitarization, European defense and the security of the Baltic Sea.
President Niinistö and Foreign Minister Haavisto did not get to Åland due to bad weather, but gave their speeches virtually.
Source: The Nordic Page