NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence in Finland's quick gainining of Alliance membership in case it decides to apply to join NATO.
This was stated in his annual report on the activities of the organization.
"NATO has always supported the fundamental right of any nation to choose its own path... Finland is a very close partner of NATO", he said.
The Head of the Alliance further noted that the Finnish and Swedish Armed Forces meet NATO standards. "If they apply, I expect that this will be received positively, a way will be found to quickly agree on an accession protocol and move along the path to NATO membership," TASS quotes Stoltenberg.
"We will wait for Finland to make such a decision", he said, stressing that the country's leadership has the last say.
