Norway refuses to give Finland a mountain as a birthday present

Norwegian officials have rejected plans to give neighboring Finland a mountain peak to mark the 100th anniversary of its independence.

A man conquers Mount Halti. Photo: Alamy

The BBC quoted Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg as saying she regretted having to reject the idea because the country's constitution prohibits any form of territorial sacrifice.

"Adjusting the border between the two countries leads to legal challenges, including those related to the Norwegian constitution," Ms. Solberg wrote in a letter to Mr. Svein Leiros, mayor of the northern town of Kaafjord, who supports the mountaintop donation campaign.

A social media campaign was launched in July to ask Norway to give the summit of Mount Halti to Finland on its national day next year. Part of the mountain is currently located in Finland and forms the highest peak, but the peak extends 20 meters across the border into Norway.

Campaigners have proposed moving the border to give the 1,330m peak to Finland, saying it would be a “great gift to our sister country” to mark 100 years of independence from Russia and would not cause much damage to mountainous Norway.

The campaign's Facebook page has attracted 17,000 likes and received support from both sides of the border.

Map of Norway, Finland and location of Mount Halti. Graphics: BBC

However, Norway's 1814 constitution stipulates that the country is "indivisible", even for an area the size of a football field.

"We will consider another suitable gift for Finland on this anniversary," the prime minister added.

According to VNE