Finnish and Russian Presidents discuss bilateral issues and visa arrangements

Halonen to travel to St. Petersburg in autumn

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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Finland on Monday evening for the second visit to this country of his presidency. Putin's plane touched down at Turku Airport at 6:20 PM, about an hour behind schedule.
      From Turku, Putin was driven to the President's summer residence Kultaranta in nearby Naantali, where he was met by President Tarja Halonen.
      Putin's departure from Moscow had been delayed by a meeting with the Parliamentary Speaker of Ukraine.
     
Although the exact time of the Russian President's arrival was not made public, a few hundred curious onlookers in Naantali had gathered along the route. Also waiting for his arrival was a small group of demonstrators who were demanding that Russia return the areas in the east of Finland that were ceded to the Soviet Union in the last war.
      The two presidents spent at least two hours in the evening discussing bilateral issues, including economic questions, the Saimaa Canal, rail transport, as well as border and customs matters.
      The discussions delayed the beginning of the official dinner by two hours.
     
At a press conference on Tuesday, both presidents praised what they see as good economic and political relations between the two countries. President Putin applauded the growth of trade between the two countries. He also urged Finnish businesses to invest more in Russia.
      Responding to a journalist's question, Putin reiterated his opposition to outsiders sponsoring political action in Russia. However, he did not oppose outside support for environmental organisations or ethnic minorities.
     
On visa matters, Halonen said that Finland's priority is to reach a visa treaty between Russia and the European Union.
      On the question of the Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic States, which recently joined the European Union, Putin said that he was dissatisfied with the "alien" or "non-citizen" status given to the Baltic Russians. Halonen stated that she did not believe that the Russian-speaking minorities would be a major issue during Finland's six-month turn as the EU Presidency, which begins from July 2006.
     
Before leaving Kultaranta, Putin invited Halonen to the official opening of the new sewage treatment plant in St. Petersburg later this year, noting that it will also give an opportunity to further discuss bilateral relations.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vladimir Putin arrives in Finland for working visit today (1.8.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat