Foreign Minister Stubb pleased with yield of first day of visit
Karelia advocates hold low-key demonstration, president’s wife visits theatre
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) held an hour and a half of talks with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov on Monday. Topics of discussion included bilateral and multilateral relations involving Finland, Russia, the EU, NATO, and the United States.
Also discussed was the Russian initiative for a new European security structure.
Stubb saw it as a positive sign that President Dmitri Medvedev used the expression “Helsinki Plus” in his speech at the University of Helsinki.
“For me it means that cooperation would take place within the OSCE, or on the foundation of the OSCE. But naturally this is my own interpretation”, said Stubb to Helsingin Sanomat.
A demonstration organised by the Territorial Restitution Association of Finland at Helsinki’s Market Square drew a fairly small number of people.
The protest by about ten people calling for the restoration of Finnish territories annexed by the Soviet Union after the war took place at something of a distance form the Presidential Palace, and the signs carried by the protesters could not be seen from the palace, where Presidents Medvedev and Tarja Halonen were.
The wife of the Russian President Svetlana Medvedeva visited the Russian Culture and Science Centre in Helsinki, as well as the Finnish-Russian School.
The pupils at the school performed extracts of a Russian-language play that they are producing.
“We also extended a small gift on behalf of the school. What it was will remain a secret”, said head teacher Tuula Väisänen.
Mrs. Medvedeva also shook the hands of all 22 pupils who took part in the performance.
At the banquet for 130 invited guests held in honour of the Russian President, President Halonen and her husband Pertti Arajärvi served asparagus soup, reindeer liver paté, pheasant breast stuffed with mushroom loaf and Madeira sauce, and almond ice cream, pistachio cake and raspberry sauce.
Guests included Finnish political leaders, high-ranking civil servants, as well as representatives of Finnish business and culture.
On Tuesday President Medvedev laid a wreath at a monument to Finland’s war dead, and at the grave of Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim.
Following a practice initiated by his predecessor Vladimir Putin, President Medvedev placed a bouquet on the grave of President Urho Kekkonen.
Later on Tuesday, President Medvedev and his wife visited nearby Porvoo.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 21.4.2009 - TODAY |
 Foreign Minister Stubb pleased with yield of first day of visit |
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