Finnish Parliament votes to withdraw from Ottawa Convention on landmine ban PHOTO

The Finnish Parliament has voted in favour of the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines. 

The legislative body has seen 157 MPs vote in favour of the decision, while 18 oppose it, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

A political decision on the withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty was taken in April to address the risks from Russia.

Finland guards half of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s land border against the alliance’s main adversary, stretching more than 1,300 kilometres (800 miles). The Nordic country has a history of wars with Moscow, and is among the biggest providers of military aid to Ukraine.

However, the full exit from the landmine ban still requires confirmation by President Alexander Stubb and the handing over of the instrument of withdrawal to the United Nations secretary general.

By Khagan Isayev