Propaganda is the worst enemy

The Nordic Council's involvement in foreign and security policy has increased in recent years. For example, Nordic roundtable discussions have been held for the last two years, and the situation in the surrounding world was high on the agenda at the annual Session in Stockholm at the end of October.

"The most important takeaway from these meetings is the exchange of experience, information and knowledge", said Hans Wallmark. This gives backing to our politicians to speak with credibility on what is happening in our neighbouring countries in discussions in our respective Nordic countries. Moreover, we have greater leverage when considering possible actions.

Propaganda

Laine Randjärv from Estonia is President of the Baltic Assembly, and she dwelt at length on matters of information and disinformation about what is happening in the Ukraine, Georgia, Moldavia and in the rest of eastern Europe.

"The propaganda which is now being spread via television channels and social media in Russia, as well as in our countries and in the whole of Europe, is the most dangerous enemy", says Laine Randjärv. Russia is pumping billions into a comprehensive propaganda machine, infiltrating the channels that people are used to and it is now difficult for us to reach out with facts.

Winter

The Baltic Assembly's President also spoke of the approaching winter and remembers how Nordic co-operation supported the Baltic countries with food, clothes and medicine when they were under pressure from Russia.

"If the people of the Ukraine survive the winter, the government will also survive", she said.

Input from Professor Ingerid Opdahl from the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, IFS, led to a more in-depth discussion covering the actual conflict situation in eastern Europe, including the conflict of values.

Bertel Haarder from Denmark of the Centre Group in the Nordic Council, raised, for example, the fact that the extreme right-wing forces in western Europe now seem to be supporting Putin.