Paavo Vaeyrynen: Slovenia and Croatia do not fulfil all criteria necessary for gaining the status of independent states

Ljubljana, 14 August - A group of Finnish citizens of Slovene ancestry from Helsinki has informed us that Finland's leadership has for the first time taken an official standpoint to the recognition of Slovenian and Croatian independence. Finland's Foreign Minister Paavo Vaeyrynen in an interview broadcast live by Finnish television stated that Slovenia and Croatia do not fulfil all criteria necessary for gaining the status of independent states and therefore can not be recognized as such by Finland.