Medvedev and Halonen visit Porvoo Cathedral

A puzzled-looking clergyman stood inside the gates of Porvoo Cathedral on Tuesday morning. He held a passport in his hand and commented: “It is a rare occasion that you need a passport to go into your own church”, he said, surrounded by a sea of police officers.
      The man was Heikki Hakamies, vicar of the Finnish-language Lutheran parish of Porvoo.
      He was on hand as a guide for presidents Dmitri Medvedev and Tarja Halonen. “This is where Finland became a nation among nations”, Hakamies said in Russian.
      He added that the Porvoo Diet of 1809 was the start of what was to be a relatively free and good time for Finland.
     
There was quite a buzz on the hill where the cathedral is located, as police and Foreign Ministry officials shunted photographers and journalists to their proper places in front of the big church.
      Finally a glimpse of the presidents could be seen, as Hakamies tells them of events that Finns and Russians can celebrate together, which are rarely mentioned during interaction with the Swedes.
      With the guests inside the building, the police and civil servants showed ten young schoolchildren, ten members of the Porvoo City Council, and the media their right places before the presidents came out into the spring sunshine.
     
President Halonen had a couple of words to say about the blending of tradition and the present day at the historical location. Medvedev spoke about the significance of visa-free travel and about everything going well.
      Questions of acquisition of land in Russia by Finns came up. Medvedev suggested that Finns wanting to buy real estate should consider buying buildings and leasing land. He also mentioned that land may not be bought in Russia’s border zones. Foreigners are also not allowed to buy agricultural land.
      Medvedev pondered various options for a compromise. He did not make any final promises, but said that he had made note about the Finnish concerns.
      Finally President Halonen became somewhat irritated with the constant questions about land purchases. With a sour expression, she said that press conferences are not the place to promote the matter.
      “We cannot solve these things in an instant”, Medvedev noted.
     
Medvedev’s plane took off from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon.
      After her guest had left, President Halonen held another press conference, and the issue of land purchases came up again.
      “I am a cautious lawyer. When speaking in public, I am very careful. This needs consideration."

More on this subject:
 Halonen pleased with yield of Medvedev visit

Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Medvedev promotes new security pact in Helsinki (21.4.2009)
  Foreign Minister Stubb pleased with yield of first day of visit (21.4.2009)
  Russian Emperor riding to Porvoo saluted with cannon fire and tolling of church bells (27.3.2009)

Links:
  Diet of Porvoo (Wikipedia)