HELSINKI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Finland is not in the hallway awaiting NATO membership, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said Tuesday.

    Speaking at the presidential forum on foreign and security policies, Halonen said Finland is NATO's partner and this cooperation benefits Finland's national defense.

    Finland is among the partners of NATO that can themselves decide if they want to move into the "waiting room" for membership in the western alliance, she said.

    Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva said at the forum that the government and the president share similar views on relations with NATO.