Finland should stay militarily non-aligned: prime ministerHELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland should remain militarily neutral because it helps ensure security in the Baltic Sea region, Prime Minister Juha Sipila said in an interview ahead of celebrations of the country s 100 years of independence. The EU member state was part of the Russian Empire and won independence during the 1917 Russian revolution but it nearly lost it fighting the Soviet Union in World War Two. The center-right government retains the option of seeking NATO membership but remaining non-aligned and increasing defense cooperation with Sweden and the EU was Finland s way, Sipila said.  At the moment, to have Finland and Sweden forming this militarily non-aligned zone, I think that increases the security and stability in the Baltic Sea region ... I see no reason to change this,  Sipila told Reuters by phone. Finland has stepped up military cooperation with Sweden and forged closer ties with NATO because it is concerned about Russia s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and heightened East-West tensions in the Baltic Sea.  However, the government has opted to stay out of NATO in line with its tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia. A report commissioned by the government said last year that if Finland joined NATO it would lead to a crisis with Russia, which is also a major trade partner for Finland. Moscow has hinted that it could move troops closer to the Finnish-Russian border if Finland joins NATO.  It is clear that Finland is part of the West and the western community. That is our place,  Sipila said.  We want to be ... at the core of the European Union, influencing EU s future. But the main difference between us and the majority of EU states is our military non-alignment.  Polls show that only 22 percent of Finns support NATO membership, while 62 percent are opposed. Sipila, who leads Finland s Centre party, said any move to join would need public approval via a referendum. Finance Minister Petteri Orpo from Finland s poll-leading National Coalition party told Reuters last week he believed that joining NATO would improve Finland s security. worldnews
finland stay militarily prime ministerhelsinki reuters finland remain militarily neutral helps ensure security basic sea region prime minister jha similar said interview ahead celebrations country years independence the eu member state part russian empire independence russian revolution nearly lost fighting soviet union world war two the government retains option seeking nato membership remaining increasing defense cooperation sweden eu finland way similar said at moment finland sweden forming militarily zone i think increases security stability basic sea region i see reason change similar told reuters phone finland stepped military cooperation sweden forged closer ties nato concerned russia annexation crimea heightened tensions basic sea however government opted stay nato line tradition avoiding confrontation russia a report commissioned government said last year finland joined nato would lead crisis russia also major trade partner finland moscow hinted could move troops closer border finland joins nato it clear finland part west western community that place similar said we want core european union influencing eu future but main difference us majority eu states military polls show percent finds support nato membership percent opposed similar leads finland centre party said move join would need public approval via referendum finance minister better ordo finland national coalition party told reuters last week believed joining nato would improve finland security worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Finland should stay militarily non-aligned: prime ministerHELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland should remain militarily neutral because it helps ensure security in the Baltic Sea region, Prime Minister Juha Sipila said in an interview ahead of celebrations of the country s 100 years of independence. The EU member state was part of the Russian Empire and won independence during the 1917 Russian revolution but it nearly lost it fighting the Soviet Union in World War Two. The center-right government retains the option of seeking NATO membership but remaining non-aligned and increasing defense cooperation with Sweden and the EU was Finland s way, Sipila said.  At the moment, to have Finland and Sweden forming this militarily non-aligned zone, I think that increases the security and stability in the Baltic Sea region ... I see no reason to change this,  Sipila told Reuters by phone. Finland has stepped up military cooperation with Sweden and forged closer ties with NATO because it is concerned about Russia s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and heightened East-West tensions in the Baltic Sea.  However, the government has opted to stay out of NATO in line with its tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia. A report commissioned by the government said last year that if Finland joined NATO it would lead to a crisis with Russia, which is also a major trade partner for Finland. Moscow has hinted that it could move troops closer to the Finnish-Russian border if Finland joins NATO.  It is clear that Finland is part of the West and the western community. That is our place,  Sipila said.  We want to be ... at the core of the European Union, influencing EU s future. But the main difference between us and the majority of EU states is our military non-alignment.  Polls show that only 22 percent of Finns support NATO membership, while 62 percent are opposed. Sipila, who leads Finland s Centre party, said any move to join would need public approval via a referendum. Finance Minister Petteri Orpo from Finland s poll-leading National Coalition party told Reuters last week he believed that joining NATO would improve Finland s security. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: finland stay militarily prime ministerhelsinki reuters finland remain militarily neutral helps ensure security basic sea region prime minister jha similar said interview ahead celebrations country years independence the eu member state part russian empire independence russian revolution nearly lost fighting soviet union world war two the government retains option seeking nato membership remaining increasing defense cooperation sweden eu finland way similar said at moment finland sweden forming militarily zone i think increases security stability basic sea region i see reason change similar told reuters phone finland stepped military cooperation sweden forged closer ties nato concerned russia annexation crimea heightened tensions basic sea however government opted stay nato line tradition avoiding confrontation russia a report commissioned government said last year finland joined nato would lead crisis russia also major trade partner finland moscow hinted could move troops closer border finland joins nato it clear finland part west western community that place similar said we want core european union influencing eu future but main difference us majority eu states military polls show percent finds support nato membership percent opposed similar leads finland centre party said move join would need public approval via referendum finance minister better ordo finland national coalition party told reuters last week believed joining nato would improve finland security worldnews