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Good neighbors: Russian-Finnish talks in Finland in friendly atmosphere |
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 [22.7.10]
Dmitry Medvedev and President of Finland Tarja Halonen discussed a new European security architecture, developing the EU-Russia strategic partnership, including progress towards visa-free travel and the Partnership for Modernisation initiative, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and a number of regional issues.
The two leaders examined cooperation within international and regional forums in the Baltic region, northern Europe in general, and in the Arctic.
Bilateral cooperation priorities were also on the agenda. Finland is one of Russia’s most important business partners. Trade between the two countries has increased more than five-fold, and total direct Finnish investment in the Russian economy has increased eight-fold over the last decade. Although 2009 saw bilateral trade drop to $13.1 billion, from $22.4 billion in 2008, Russia remained Finland’s biggest trade partner. Trade between the two countries has picked up again, posting an increase of more than 20 percent - $5 billion – for the first quarter of 2010. Innovation and high technology are among the two countries’ economic cooperation priorities.
Mr Medvedev and Ms Halonen gave a joint news conference following the talks.
Medvedev and Halonen: Press statements after talks in Finland:
PRESIDENT OF FINLAND TARJA HALONEN (retranslated): We have just held very successful talks here at Kultaranta. It has long been said in Finland that for a guest to really know his hosts, he has to stay the night, and I think that in this case the saying has proved absolutely correct. Between our official talks we managed to steam ourselves in the sauna, go for a swim, ride in the park, discuss various informal issues, and share some jokes. Of course we also held serious talks.
As you all know, the fundamental relations between Russia and Finland are excellent. We, the presidents, want to continue strengthening the cooperation between our countries’ governments, and this is why Prime Minister of Finland Mari Kiviniemi took part in a brief meeting with the two presidents this morning, at which we both wished success to the cooperation between Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
We also discussed in detail my planned visit to Moscow in November. We examined the main cooperation and business issues before us. For our part, we are ready to help in areas in which problems exist or could arise. The most important thing, of course, is for our companies to have good relations and a firm commitment to continuing their fruitful work together. We think that this is the case.
Perhaps in the future, business delegations will accompany the presidents on their visits. We discussed other topical issues too, administrative matters, and it seems that we will manage to get a number of issues settled.
We spent quite a long time discussing environmental protection yesterday, and we will continue this discussion today when we go by yacht or motorboat to Seili Island, which is home to a centre for studying the state of the Baltic Sea. We also discussed UN environmental protection initiatives and sustainable development, and looked at the contribution Russia, Finland, the European Union and other countries are making to this. We discussed too the development prospects for Russian and Finnish society.
Yesterday evening I received very useful additional information from President Medvedev on modernisation, and proposed a partnership on the Finnish side in various sectors.
We still have discussions on a broad range of international issues ahead of today, and we will perhaps have the opportunity to examine the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
We will be ready to answer more detailed questions on various areas after the opening remarks from my colleague, President Dmitry Medvedev.
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
It always makes me very happy when events go the way they are now, here in Finland, at Kultaranta. I want to begin these opening remarks by thanking my colleague, President Halonen, for choosing to receive the Russian President on a working visit here at this venue, and for the very wide-ranging and at the same time substantive consultations that we have held.
The President of Finland has explained what we have been working on here. We did indeed discuss a diverse range of issues. Yesterday evening, we spoke at length about climate change, the environment, and the Baltic Sea. This morning, I had the chance to see for myself what this part of the Gulf of Finland looks like, see what state the sea is in.
We certainly have plenty of work to do in this area, and so we will continue discussing environmental issues and the state of the Baltic Sea today.
Regarding what Tarja Halonen said just now about our overall approaches and the overall relations between our countries, I agree fully with her assessment. We have a very tight and close partnership between two neighbouring countries, but this does not mean that we are without work to do. Our bilateral trade dropped somewhat last year because of the crisis. This year has seen the emergence of common economic trends that are reflected in our trade relations too. Our trade is on the rise again, and our ties are gaining more substance. There are issues on which we regularly exchange views, and there are some issues on which we differ in our positions. It was very useful to be able to discuss these matters yesterday, and again today with the Finnish prime minister present too. I took the occasion to wish the prime minister success in her work, and expressed the hope that she will have substantial and productive relations with the Russian Government.
At the same time, I think that our top-level meetings – and we have regular contacts with the Finnish president – should serve as an opportunity to discuss not only foreign policy and humanitarian issues, for example, which can be very urgent too, of course, but to resolve practical tasks.
I therefore think it would be the right decision indeed for a group of Finnish businesspeople to accompany the President of Finland on her next visit to Russia. It would boost the overall atmosphere of trust between our business communities, and would help us to address and resolve specific issues. What more do we need?
I am therefore looking forward to receiving President Tarja Halonen in Russia this autumn on a big visit during which we will examine not only global issues but also discuss absolutely practical matters. This is a very positive thing.
I probably spoiled my colleague’s appetite at dinner yesterday by speaking at such length about Russia’s modernisation drive. This is something of greater interest to Russians themselves, of course, but our Finnish colleagues patiently heard me out on the subject. I hope this will give our Finnish friends greater insight into what we are doing now. The President of Finland and I agreed that modernisation should take place in Chekhovian fashion, that is to say, it should involve changing not just the economic foundations and structure of the country, but changing the people too. Overall, this kind of working visit and the chance to taste the summer in such a beautiful place give us the opportunity to share our thoughts on a very wide range of subjects. This is very good.
We will also discuss today foreign policy issues, coordination of Russia’s and Finland’s foreign policy, and of Russian and European Union foreign policy. This is an area where we have all been active of late. There are a number of initiatives within the European Union, and there is also Russia’s initiative on concluding the European Security Treaty. I hope we will get the chance to discuss all of these matters during our excursion and visits to various sites today.
Of course, we did not shy away from more controversial topics too. I don’t want to steal the journalists’ work. It is your job to ask questions, after all, and what would be the point of me telling you now all about meat, milk, balances, and the humanitarian issues that exist in our relations when it is better that you ask these questions yourselves.
But whatever these issues, the most important thing of all is that we really do have very good and warmhearted relations. I want to end these opening remarks by once more thanking Tarja Halonen for the chance to meet here in this lovely place, for the wonderful weather we have been enjoying, and for the friendly atmosphere with its special Finnish touches that has been accompanying this visit. (Source: Press Release on the official website of the President; Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office)
[ russia-media.RU – Murmansk & Shtokman News / FLAIT Murmansk ]
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