Protocol

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the President of the Republic of Finland,
Being inflexibly resolved to coöperate in the interests of maintaining international peace and security in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations,
Desiring to promote the further development and strengthening of the existing friendly and good-neighbourly relations between the USSR and Finland,
Noting that the Treaty of Friendship, Coöperation and Mutual Assistance between the USSR and Finland signed at Moscow on 6 April 1948 is in accordance with the vital interests of both countries and contributes to the successful solution of the aforementioned tasks,
Have decided to sign the present Protocol and have appointed as their pleinipotentiaries:
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: N. A. Bulganin, President of the Council of Ministers of the USSR;
The President of the Republic of Finland: Urho Kekkonen, Prime Minister, and Emil Skog, Minister of Defence,
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed on the following provisions:

Article 1

The provisions of article 8 concerning the term of the Treaty of Friendship, Coöperation and Mutual Assistance between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Republic of Finland signed at Moscow on 6 April 1948 shall be amended, and this Treaty shall remain in force for twenty years from the date of the entry into force of the present Protocol.

If neither of the High Contracting Parties gives notice one year before the expiration of the said period that it wishes to denounce the Treaty, it shall remain in force for further successive periods of five years, until such time as either High Contracting Party gives notice in writing one year before the expiration of the current five-year period of its intention to terminate the Treaty.

Article 2

The present Protocol shall be subject to ratification and shall come into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which shall take place at Helsinki as soon as possible.

In faith whereof the plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol and attached their seals thereto.

Done at Moscow, on 19 September 1955, in two copies, each in the Russian and Finnish languages, both texts being equally authentic.