Russia's move to change baltic maritime borders sparks tensions
Russia intends to recognize part of the area in the eastern Gulf of Finland as internal maritime waters, as well as areas near Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region. "First of all, it's a serious matter. Wars usually start when some people want to move borders," says the former head of Finnish military intelligence, Gen. Pekka Toveri.
The Moscow Times reported on Wednesday that the Russian authorities want to unilaterally change the country's maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea. The Russian Ministry of Defence presented the project on Tuesday. The authors argue that the existing border, in force since 1985, "does not fully correspond to the current geographical conditions," Radio Svoboda reported, citing a Russian government resolution.
At the same time, Reuters reported on Wednesday afternoon, Greenwich Time, that the project concerning the unilateral change of borders disappeared from the Russian government's legal acts database. Russian authorities have not confirmed This information.
"First of all, it's a serious matter. Wars usually start when some people want to move borders. Of course, such declarations are alarming and constitute a violation of international customs. The fact that the Ministry of Defence issued a unilateral declaration without discussing this issue with neighbouring countries is worrying," Gen. Toveri emphasized in an interview with the Finnish daily "Iltalehti".
Russia has territorial claims. This is not the first time
The former military official reminds us that this is not, by any means, the first time Russia has expressed a desire to change its borders.
"In Georgia, Russia arbitrarily moved the border, usually in such a way that territories were taken from Georgia using 'the law of the stronger.' This situation is different and unique because it is against two NATO countries, Finland and Lithuania," Gen. Toveri emphasized.
However, Finn points out that the information coming from Russia is only a declaration. "It has not been officially announced yet. Time will tell whether progress will be made from this point or remain just a declaration," he added in an interview with "Iltalehti".
