Mihkelson: Security and protection of NATO border is the common duty of the alliance

Head of the Estonian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Marko Mihkelson visits Storskog border crossing station in the Arctic with his colleagues. Through this border crossing station, thousands of migrants have entered Norway from Russia.

In Mihkelson’s opinion it is important that all allies thought of and contributed jointly to the protection and strengthening of the borders. “The world around us is fragile,” Mihkelson said. “We are not surrounding ourselves with walls, but we must not lose our watchfulness.”

He pointed out as a comparison that in the same way as Narva was the easternmost border of the European Union and NATO, Storskog was the northernmost border station of NATO. “Our internal security depends very directly on peace outside our borders,” Mihkelson said.

Storskog border crossing station in Finnmark County in northern part of Norway, 16 kilometres from the town of Kirkenes, is the only place where it is possible to enter Norway from Russia. This road was used by thousands of migrants until Norway decided to send illegal immigrants back to Russia.

Mihkelson participates in the visit of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Defence and Security Committee. Within the framework of the visit, it is planned to have meetings with the officers of Storskog border station and the police, and the local government of Kirkenes in the northern part of Norway. The Committee will also visit the Norwegian military unit in Svanvik.

Riigikogu Press Service
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