Outgoing President Halonen bids farewell to Russian leaders

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There was no shortage of kind words on Tuesday when Finnish President Tarja Halonen made a farewell trip to Russia.
      “During your presidency, and it is a long period - 12 years - relations between Russia and Finland have strengthened considerably”, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the beginning of their meeting early on Tuesday evening in Novo Ogaryovo near Moscow.
      In addition to the sharp rise in trade and direct investments, Putin mentioned one of his pet projects - the high-speed rail link between Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
     
Putin and Halonen both assumed the presidencies of their respective countries in 2000. Putin became Prime Minister in 2008 after serving the maximum two consecutive terms as president, but the two have maintained contact.
      Halonen calculates that as head of state she has visited Russia 27 times, and she has usually met with Putin on each occasion.
      Halonen noted that the two had been in contact before their presidencies - the first phone calls were made when Halonen was Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Putin was Prime Minister.
     
On Tuesday Halonen mentioned to Putin that friendship always goes both ways. She said that it is important to have partners “who can be asked openly how things are going here”.
      She had said the same earlier in the day when she met with President Dmitri Medvedev.
      Halonen had not met alone with the Finnish media on Tuesday, so there was no indication yet of the tone of the responses of the two Russian leaders. Medvedev is giving up his office, and Putin is expected to be elected President in March.
     
Protests alleging election fraud in December’s Duma elections have been exceptionally large. Demonstrators have also called for Putin’s resignation.
      The issue was not discussed in front of reporters, but Halonen made reference to ordinary people in her comments on closer ties.
      Last year the Finnish-Russian border was crossed ten million times.
      The Finnish President noted that the increase in cross-border travel is helping the neighbours get to know each other better, adding that it also brings challenges.
      In addition to long queues at border crossings, Halonen mentioned “humanitarian problems” - a likely reference to some child custody disputes that have caused friction.
     
Halonen told Putin that Finns would buy more property in Russia if it were easier.
      Putin urged Halonen to show a good example in this.
      “Agreed”, Halonen answered in Russian.
     


See also:
  Grandmother question raised during Putin visit to Finland (28.5.2010)
  Putin denounces diplomat for helping smuggle Anton out of Russia (4.6.2009)
  BACKGROUND: Oil billionaire who defied Putin given long prison sentences (11.1.2012)
  Putin joins Halonen on first run of high-speed Allegro train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg (13.12.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat