German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/48, p. 5101.
Frau President. Excellencies. Ladies and gentlemen.
So as to set it straight at the beginning: We also accept
the wish of Sweden and Finland to enter NATO. If we do not do this with
effervescent joy and enthusiasm, that has nothing to do with the two democratic
candidates but exclusively with the circumstances and timing of this step.
In a geopolitical confrontation which has led to a war in Europe,
shiftings of balances [Gleichgewichtsverschiebungen],
even if they initially have a symbolic character, can intensify conflicts
instead of relaxing them. We therefore hold it to be important that particularly
Finland, with its long land border with Russia, continues to play its
traditional role as translator of Russian sensitivities and desires, as it has
done successfully for many years under the former President Kekkonen. And from
there we proceed that also in the future no NATO troops and also no atomic
weapons will be stationed long-term on the territory of the two countries. This
is necessary in the interest of peace. If the entry leads to that the European
weight in the future more strongly determines NATO’s policy than the quite
otherwise stacked geostrategic interests of the U.S.A., often opposed to
European wishes, that would even be an additionally positive effect. I
nevertheless need mention that the human rights discounts to the benefit of
Turkey in the trilateral declaration of intentions are more than just a drop of
bitterness for a community of values as they understand NATO to be, ladies and
gentlemen.
We in the past have recognized the expansion of NATO towards the Russian borders, which was never internally accepted by Russia, as one of the causes of the critical aggravation [Zuspitzung] of our relations with Russia. This estimate remains as before correct. We nevertheless also see that in regards the call on Peter the Great by the Russian President, with which he justifies among other things the Ukraine war, opponents of Peter’s earlier expansion, thus especially Sweden, seek new safeguards and allies.
In Sweden and Finland, the historical memory is long and it
unfortunately confirms no recollections of an unclouded friendship with the
great neighbor. Certainly, if we take history seriously as a teacher of the present
and future,
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP): This the righteous say!
we must accept the desire of Finland and Sweden for greater
security.
Your decision and our positive reply is Realpolitik in the best sense. There is no occasion for jubilation,
ladies and gentlemen, over a realpolitischen
welcome.
I am grateful.
[trans: tem]
