Finish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto took part in country’s first NATO round table meeting in Brussels Tuesday, following Finland’s accession ceremony earlier in the day.
Haavisto was seen smiling and shaking hands with other NATO leaders, before taking a seat between Estonia and France.
The alliance's chief, Jens Stoltenberg, opened the meeting by saying, “Let me start by welcoming Finland as the newest member of our alliance.”
Stoltenberg’s comments were met by a long round of applause, with Haavisto smiling and mouthing the words, "Thank you."
“Mr Haavisto you have attended many meetings, but this is the first time you sit down there between France and Estonia. It is really a great privilege to have you now as a full-fledged member,” Stoltenberg said, adding, “and as we stated so clearly outside, soon we will also have Sweden as a full-fledged member of our alliance.”
