The poll, conducted by market research firm Taloustutkimus Oy in early February, revealed that 70 percent of the 1,000 Finns questioned were against the creation of a common EU defense force, while only 18 percent were in favor.

The results of the poll should come as no surprise. In a similar poll conducted by Taloustutkimus Oy in November 2000, approximately the same percentage of Finns were opposed to the idea of a European army.

Non-alignment is solidly entrenched in Finland. It enabled the country to straddle the fence between the Soviet Union and the West and Finns have traditionally shown little enthusiasm for greater defense cooperation.

WAR.WIRE