Juhani Suomi puts series of Koivisto books on hold after two volumes

Political historian says criticism of books published so far has blocked access to archives

Juhani Suomi Mauno Koivisto

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Political historian Juhani Suomi says that he is suspending his work on a series of books on the age of former Finnish President Mauno Koivisto.
      Last autumn, Suomi published a book on the Koivisto age, and on Thursday this week, the second part of the series appeared: Epävarmuuden vuodet. Mauno Koiviston aika 1984-1986 ("The Years of Uncertainty. The Time of Mauno Koivisto 1984-1986").
      In the introduction to his book Suomi complains that he is no longer being given access to resource material. The closing of private archives to him came after the first part of the series came under strong criticism.
      A number of commentators, including Parliamentary Speaker Paavo Lipponen (SDP) and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) lashed out at the criticism of Koivisto that came out in the book.
      Suomi said that he would consider continuing the work in 2011, when he would have access to public archives from 25 years back.
     
In his book, Suomi shines new light on the trend toward a more Western orientation, away from the pull of the Soviet Union.
      The critical phase was in the autumn of 1985, when Finland decided to become a full member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). For 24 years before that, Finland had been a mere associate member - at the insistence of the Soviet Union. Finland also joined the West European technology programme Eureka.
      After the decisions were made, President Koivisto went to Moscow to explain the new policy to the new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachov.
      The meeting proceeded well on an official level, but Suomi quotes a "high Soviet diplomat" as saying that there was concern in Soviet quarters about all of the things that had happened in Finland in the two preceding years.
      After the meeting, Gorbachov asked the Soviet Foreign Ministry and the KGB to draft an assessment about the situation in Finland. According to the study, Finnish politics had displayed "increasingly clear signs of a right-wing tendency which, if they develop, could already in the near future have a negative impact on our positions and our interests in the countries in question."
     
Adding to Moscow's worries was that trade between Finland and the Soviet Union, which had long flourished, had fallen into great difficulties.
      Another source of concern was internal developments in Finland. Contrary to Moscow's wishes, a split occurred in the Finnish Communist Party. Also, the Finnish press got to be more open in its writing, and the diaries of former President J.K. Paasikivi were published.
      According to Juhani Suomi, the policy line changed without any clear decisions being made. He says that Koivisto did not try to anticipate the changes or to take issue with matters.
      "The policy line that was carried out might primarily be called a reaction to certain external events, and even then, the aim was to do so without drawing attention, and at a low profile", Suomi says.
     
A full review of the new book by Juhani Suomi will be included among our weekly features on Tuesday next week.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Lipponen launches attack on new book about former President Koivisto (30.9.2005)
  Crowded road to Moscow - Juhani Suomi writes critical book of early Koivisto presidency (28.9.2005)
  From Kekkonen to the time of Koivisto (5.10.2005)

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