Stubb: Relationship with Russia is no “special relationship”

Ministers weigh in on policy towards Russia

Alexander Stubb

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Government ministers of the National Coalition Party on Tuesday sent Russia a message of how much the world has changed in their assessment that on an international scale, Russia is not a great power, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb on Wednesday.
      Also taking part in the assessment is Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen and Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies.
      “The message to Russia is quite clear. The world has changed. We live in a multipolar world. Russia is a great power from Finland’s point of view, but not when measured in terms of economics”, Stubb said.
     
Stubb feels that while relations between Finland and Russia are in good shape, the relationship is not a “special relationship”. In his view, problems that arise between the countries are mostly economic, but also political.
      Stubb has not noticed any new tones in relations between the two countries in recent months.
      Finland’s goal is to build European cooperation with Russia and to keep relations positive and direct, the Foreign Minister intoned. He also pointed out that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had said that “good neighbours treat each other well.”
     
Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen (Centre) says that he had been surprised during the summer to see politicians competing with who could make the toughest statements on Russia.
      Väyrynen did not want to evaluate comments made by other ministers on Tuesday, but he made reference to the Finland Arena event held in Pori in July, where representatives of the various parties commented on disagreements between Finland and Russia.
      “It is strange that there is this kind of competition”, he said.
      He says that in the background there is “a certain critical atmosphere” with respect to Russia. Disputes with Russia about foods and wood tariffs are best dealt with when officials who are experts are allowed to handle them, Väyrynen said.
     
According to Väyrynen, public funding from Finland for cooperation among adjacent areas of Finland and Russia is on the wane.
      At the government’s budget talks which begin on Friday, Väyrynen aims to defend keeping the funding at the current level of EUR 19.5 million. The Ministry of Finance is proposing EUR 13.5 for the purpose.
      Väyrynen said on Wednesday that the cooperation is in Finland’s interest, and should be kept at the present level, but that the need for funding from Finland will decrease when funding for the purpose starts coming from the Russian Federation as well.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ingman’s dairy products continue to be affected by Russian export ban (17.8.2010)
  Cooperation with Russia is not enough to save Finnish economy (22.1.2010)
  Brakes come on for transit traffic of cars through Finland to Russia (23.10.2008)
  Russia postpones wood tariffs again (3.9.2009)

See also:
  Finnish-Russian relations under strain during OSCE Chairmanship (7.10.2007)

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