• Sweden edition

Finland to cede small slice of border territory to Sweden

Published: 28 Jan 10 16:24 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24662/20100128/

Sweden is set to undergo a territorial expansion following a government decision on Thursday which will alter the border with Finland to Sweden’s advantage.

The move will expand Sweden’s territory by a few hectares, based on an agreement with Sweden’s neighbour to the east.

A parallel decision on the matter is expected shortly from Finland.

“Every 25 years we review the border between Sweden and Finland,” said Karin Kristiansson, a desk officer with the Swedish foreign ministry, to the TT news agency.

In the north, the border is partially defined by a groove along the bottom of the Torne river which separates Finland from Sweden.

A joint Finnish-Swedish border commission has now registered that the groove has moved somewhat in the last quarter century.

As a result, approximately 35 hectares of previously Swedish territory has been handed over to Finland – but Sweden is set to receive a bit more in exchange, said Kristiansson. Finland will not receive any financial compensation for the adjustments.

One hectare is equal to 10,000 square metres.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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17:42 January 28, 2010 by Henckel
This is very much like the alteration in the US-Mexican border in 1966 owing to a change in course of the Rio Grande. I remember being told as a small child by my grandfather that the change had been made. As the son of a (German) immigrant he was very interested in public affairs.
18:09 January 28, 2010 by M-Larson
We and Finns are brothers, so it's okey :)
19:43 January 28, 2010 by Beynch
I don't think Finland should give up an inch of territory, and that they should go to war with Sweden, if neccessary.
23:55 January 28, 2010 by Da Goat
Is this territory exchange in the river as stated ?

then what a waste of time and money !

unless there are valuable things hiding under the water.

maybe they should just share the river (making the border the edge of the river would leave it open to neglect or abuse) how does one keep your side of the river free from pollution?

I guess a lot of time and money has gone into this futile exercise!
01:29 January 29, 2010 by GLO
I fully agree that this is an act of WAR, get out the Battle Axes and hide your women.
03:35 January 29, 2010 by Gwrhyr
@Da Goat: The Torne river is one of the last surviving Mermaid habitats in the world. Both Sweden and Finland spend a lot of money keeping the mermaid habitat clean and secret from the world. The costs are split based on how much of the river each country owns. This is why they adjust the border along with the "groove" at the bottom of the river (AKA the mermaid houses) - when they adjust the border they also adjust the cost of maintenance and international espionage aimed at keeping the mermaid habitat a secret. Otherwise everyone would flock to the Torne river and the mermaids would die out.
04:13 January 29, 2010 by Twiceshy
yes - jihad. yaayaaaaaaa booooom.
07:42 January 29, 2010 by peropaco
Sweden need all the piece of land it can get its hands on. We need the room to accommodate the heaps of highly skilful and easily to adjust asylum seekers we bring in each year from distant lands.
14:34 January 29, 2010 by Aceblack
That's the way. Little by little... Finland will soon become a part of the new Swedish empire!
09:04 January 30, 2010 by Skanssi
It is fine with me as long as Finland does not have to accept any of her former territory from the Russians that is now full of waste and pollution. Plus, this is a very tiny piece of "land" that we are talking about here.

What can anyone claim to use for agriculture or housing at this small place along the river? My guess is NOTHING. Sweden gains nothing and Finland looses nothing in this silly piece of "border change".
19:25 January 30, 2010 by Zero
@Beynch

I doubt Finland would last a week in a war against Sweden. If it came to war Finland would probably be looking at another 600 years under Swedish domination.
13:15 January 31, 2010 by conboy
Is there any chance that the Finns could be given Djursholm?
07:50 February 5, 2010 by suckfist
Imperialist swine!

Just kidding. Both countries rock.
23:01 February 7, 2010 by Vichaarvant
@zero

If you were kidding, just ignore this. If not, I suggest that you familiarise yourself with Finnish resistance to the Soviet army during the 1940s. They lasted for much longer than a week then.
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