Finland opts for phased reopening of border with Russia if situation normalizes - FM

HELSINKI. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Finland-Russia border checkpoints will open one by one if the situation normalizes, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

"Finland will be ready for the phased reopening of checkpoints at the Finnish-Russian border if the situation normalizes," Finland's STT news agency quoted Valtonen as saying on Monday.

All is quiet on the eastern border despite people remaining in the border zone, she said.

"The border situation is monitored on a daily basis and the most important thing is a resolute response to Russian actions," Valtonen said.

She did not say what decisions exactly the Finnish government was planning to make but working hours of border checkpoints are expected to be approved no later than on December 13.

The Finnish government decided in November that all eight checkpoints on the eastern border should be closed due to Russia's massive admission of immigrants from third countries to the Finnish border.

Only Vainikkala, a railroad station at the Finnish-Russian border, remains open for traffic.