NATO flag unfurled in Helsinki as Finland joins military alliance

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(4 Apr 2023)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Helsinki - 4 April 2023
1. Various of Finland's and NATO's flags outside the Finnish Foreign Ministry
ANNOTATION: NATO’s blue and white flags are now fluttering against the backdrop of Helsinki's deep blue sky at the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
Finland made its historic entry into the NATO military alliance Tuesday. The move deals a major blow to Russia.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tula region, Russia -- 4 April 2023
2. Various of Russian President Vladimir Putin inspecting railway plant
ANNOTATION: It’s the latest step in a historic realignment of the continent triggered by President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Helsinki - 4 April 2023
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Juhana Aunesluoma, Professor of political history, University of Helsinki:
"This is historically very significant for Finland. Finland has never been militarily aligned before in its history. Of course, many things changed when Finland joined the European Union in 1985, but Finland remained militarily nonaligned. So it put limits into its participation with its partners in the European Union and also NATO countries.,
4. Pan of Finland's and NATO's flags outside the Finnish Foreign Ministry
ANNOTATION: Finland shares an 832-mile border with Russia, so its membership doubles the size of the border between Russia and NATO.
5. Helsinki's Cathedral
6. Various of people outside Helsinki's Cathedral
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Aki Luhtanen, professor of mental nursing:
"This war situation has become near and near all the time. And because I think we should be aware and afraid of Russia. And I think in the future (it) is very, very important to belong to NATO."
ANNOTATION: Russia warned that it would be forced to take “retaliatory measures” to address what it called security threats created by Finland’s membership.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tula region, Russia -- 4 April 2023
8. Various of Putin visiting railway plant
ANNOTATION: The alliance says it poses no threat to Moscow.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Helsinki - 4 April 2023
9. Various of people taking photos of flags
STORYLINE:
Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russia with a historic realignment of the continent triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Nordic country's membership doubles Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance and represents a major change in Europe’s security landscape: The nation adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II. But its leaders signaled they wanted to join the alliance just months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through Moscow’s neighbors.
The move is a strategic and political blow to Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for the invasion.
Russia warned that it would be forced to take “retaliatory measures” to address what it called security threats created by Finland’s membership. It had also warned it would bolster forces near Finland if NATO sends any additional troops or equipment to what is its 31st member country.
The alliance says it poses no threat to Moscow.
Video shot for AP by Kostya Manankov
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