Parliament approves bill removing ban on nuke weapons entering country

The parliament on Wednesday approved amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code, removing the country's total legal ban on nuclear weapons entering Finnish territory, reported Xinhua. The amendments were approved by 125 votes to 61. No lawmakers cast blank votes, while 13 were absent. Under the amendments, provisions in the Nuclear Energy Act banning the import, manufacture, possession and detonation of nuclear explosive devices in Finland will be repealed. Instead, nuclear explosive devices will be regulated under the Criminal Code. The amended Criminal Code will allow exceptions for importing, transporting, supplying or possessing nuclear explosive devices in Finland when such activities are related to Finland's military defence, NATO's collective defence or other defence cooperation. However, the acquisition, manufacture, development and detonation of nuclear explosive devices, as well as research activities for manufacturing such devices, will remain criminal offences in all circumstances, according to the Finnish government. The government has said the change is needed to remove legal barriers to Finland's full participation in NATO's deterrence and defence. The legal ban on nuclear weapons in Finland was enacted in the late 1980s.