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Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto (left) and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on April 4.File photo courtesy of NATO/UPI
April 15 (United Press International) — The Finnish Border Guard said it had started building a border fence along the country’s eastern border with Russia after joining the NATO military alliance.
southeast border area of ​​finland announced on friday this pilot phase A total of 1.8 miles of fencing is being built near the town of Pelkola and is expected to be completed in June.
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“The pilot gave us the opportunity to find best practices in management, implementation, cost levels and the actual construction of the fence,” Brigadier General Jari Tolppanen said in a statement. “Through this, we can ensure the success of the next phase of the project.”
Owners of the land on which the fence is being built will receive a lump sum payment for the damage and inconvenience caused by the project. After the pilot phase is complete, construction of 47 miles of new fencing will begin by the end of the year.
The fence will eventually cover 15 percent of Finland’s 800-mile border with Russia.
“The barrier fencing will not only significantly improve the management of disruptions in border surveillance, but also on a wider scale,” said Colonel Mika Rytkönen, regional commander. “Technical surveillance will improve further.”
The construction of the fence came after Finland formally joined NATO earlier this month.
“Finland is today a member of the NATO defense alliance,” said Finnish President Sauli Niinisto tweeted“The era of military non-alignment in our history is over. A new era has begun.
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