"There are no automatics, that if part A changes, part B must also change. For example if another non-aligned country, our neighbor Sweden, for whatever reason would change its policies -- which I don't believe it would -- it would of course lead to a deep debate in Finland on our line," Kaeaeraeinen told the Ilkka newspaper.

"But nothing like that is in sight," he stressed.

Finland is scheduled to review its defence and security policy in 2004.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Finns, who for decades lived in Moscow's shadow, have pursued a campaign to anchor the Nordic country in western Europe, joining the European Union in 1995 and later becoming a member of the euro zone.

However, the majority of Finns have remained opposed to the idea of abandoning their long-standing neutrality and joining the Western defense alliance NATO.

Kaeaeraeinen was named defense minister after his predecessor Matti Vanhanen became prime minister following Anneli Jaeaetteenmaeki's sudden resignation as head of Finland's center-left coalition government last month.

WAR.WIRE