Halonen defends Baltic Countries at press conference with Putin

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President Tarja Halonen gave an exceptionally strong defence of Estonia and Latvia during an outdoor press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Finnish President’s summer residence Kultaranta in Naantali.
      Putin had lamented what he saw as the poor treatment of Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic Countries. Halonen said that the legislation of Estonia and Latvia are acceptable, and that she would have hoped that Russia would have ratified the border treaties Estonia and Latvia.
     
There was also some disagreement on the roles of non-governmental organisations. A few weeks ago Putin hinted that various Russian environmental organisations had received funding from Finland to prevent Russia from building oil terminals on the Gulf of Finland.
      At a press conference late Tuesday morning, Putin said that he takes a positive view of cross-border cooperation of NGOs - with certain reservations.
      "I oppose the financing of political activities... I oppose the use of environmental protection as a means of competition", Putin said.
      President Halonen saw the new sewage treatment plant in St. Petersburg, and the Vuosaari Harbour in Helsinki as good examples of what can be achieved by cooperation between states and among NGOs.
      "Naturally it is not possible to co-opt the NGOs, nor is it a good idea to try to do so, but friendly support, also on the side of government, for the activities of such organisations is part of today’s Europe", Halonen said.
      Putin said that he hoped that Halonen could attend the opening of the new sewage treatment plant in St. Petersburg in September. Halonen said that she probably would attend.
     
In spite of their disagreement on certain issues, both presidents insisted that relations between Finland and Russia are in good shape.
      "A desire to cooperate was the clear message", Halonen said, summing up the significance of the visit, after seeing her guest off to Turku Airport on Tuesday evening.
     
Putin put special emphasis on the importance of economic cooperation, and called for more Finnish investment in Russia.
      Finnish food has been something of a topic of discussion among European leaders in recent months. His visit gave Putin the opportunity to share his thoughts. To discuss the matter he made reference to the long, common past of the Finns and Russians, and the birch-bark shoes that he had seen in the anteroom of the Kultaranta smoke-sauna.
      Putin said that he could not say for sure if the shoes were from Russia or from Finland, and the same goes for the food of the two countries. "So how can I not like it [Finnish food], considering that it is also my own to a great extent", Putin said.
     
The departure of President Putin from Finland was delayed by an unexpected technical problem. The plane that was to take him to Moscow had problems in its braking system, and another plane had to be dispatched to take him.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish and Russian Presidents discuss bilateral issues and visa arrangements (2.8.2005)
  Vladimir Putin arrives in Finland for working visit today (1.8.2005)

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