Finland's Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki had talks last week with Sergei Soigu, the Russian Minister of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Natural Disasters, about the cross-border cooperation and communication in situations in which the effects of Russian forest fires can extend beyond the border.
Rajamäki reported on Friday that following these discussions, Russia is more willing to accept assistance from Finland over the extinguishing of fires in the future. To ensure this, the two ministers agreed on establishing direct telephone connections between the key officials of both countries.
On the other hand, Rajamäki noted that Finland cannot organise any aid operation to Russia unless a request for help is received from Russia.
Rajamäki commented further that it is important to ensure that Finland's potential international aid operation does not cause risky situations in Finland. He mentioned that Finland's scope for offering help is restricted, already in terms of spare firefighting equipment.
Rajamäki contacted Russian authorities already last summer when extensive forest fires were raging on the Russian side of the border, with smoke drifting into Finland and impairing the air quality in large areas of the country.
The telephone numbers of the key officials are supposed to help in situations in which "there is reason to ask for information or express wishes relating to cooperation".
Rajamäki is confident that Russia has taken seriously the harmful effects of the forest fires on Finland last summer.
