Russian minister says Halonen influenced decision to postpone wood tariff hikes

print this

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov says that President Tarja Halonen had a major influence on the decision by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to postpone the decision to raise export duties on wood.
      Titov made his comments to visiting Finnish Social Democratic Party chairwoman Jutta Urpilainen on Wednesday.
     
Putin met with visiting Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) in Moscow on November 11th, and said that Russia was ready to postpone the increases in wood tariffs, which were to have taken effect in January, by 9-12 months. The announcement came as a surprise to Vanhanen.
      Putin cited the “world economic situation” as the reason for the decision, as well as Russia’s desire not to cause problems for Finland.
      “The reduction of deliveries of Russian raw material does not only affect the Finnish economy, it can also have social consequences, such as unemployment”, Putin said after meeting with Vanhanen.
     
President Halonen herself indicated that Titov’s assessment might well be true. She made her comment on Thursday evening as she was going to address the Paasikivi Society.
      However, Halonen did not want to take credit for the decision for herself.
      “The important side in the matter is that all Finnish players, the Prime Minister, the President, and certain others, worked in the same direction and kept each other informed.”
      The President said that Putin did not change his mind after just one discussion. She says that she discussed the tariffs several times with Putin, and in addition, she had spoken to “a person with whom Putin discusses matters”.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  UPM: Russian wood tariffs could reduce paper production already this year (6.2.2008)
  Russian export tariff could end timber imports into Finland (12.2.2007)
  Putin: Russia to postpone implementation of wood tariffs (13.11.2008)
  Väyrynen remains hopeful on partial solution to timber tariffs dispute (27.5.2008)
  Putin defends wood tariffs during last press conference of presidency (15.2.2008)

See also:
  President says Finnish foreign policy line “stable, not stagnant” (28.11.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat