WHY? Why is Finland establishing a Consulate General in Murmansk?

Alexander Stubb

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Over the next five years, Finland’s embassy network will be scaled back for economic reasons. At the same time a Consulate General is to be set up in Murmansk.
      Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (National Coalition Party), why does Finland need a Consulate General in the Northern Russian city of Murmansk, with just 300,000 inhabitants?
     
      Russia is an important neighbour and partner for us, and we do not wish to operate just in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
      The importance of the arctic regions has increased. This is part of Finland’s arctic strategy.
      Among other things we are looking at the area’s energy resources, the Štokman gas deposit, the role of Finnish business life in the major projects in the area, and also the utilisation of the Northeast Passage.
     
At the moment Finland has a branch office of the St. Petersburg Consulate General operating in Murmansk, the main function of which is to issue visas. What does the elevation of the status really entail?
     
      This will increase our resources, enhance our possibilities of getting Finnish people to work there. We are currently looking for premises to share with Norway.
      The idea is not just to act there as a visa machine, but to oversee Finland’s interests.
     
The Governor of Murmansk has not had time to meet with the current Finnish Consul. In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, the Governor mentioned improvement of the road leading to the Finnish border and a friendship skiing event as examples of improved cooperation with Finland. Is there really enough to do in Murmansk?
     
      I have met with the Governor and I believe there is enough to do there. I am not worried about that.
      This is one of Finland’s three spearhead projects up north. In addition, we would like to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre in Rovaniemi and to organise an Arctic Council Summit in Finland.
     
One of the main functions of a Consulate General is to give support to businesses. In the Murmansk area there are no significant Finnish firms in operation.
      The decision to utilise the Štokman gas field has been postponed. Should we not wait for the business activities to pick up first, and only then set up a representation in the area?
     
      Companies will not go there without a safety network of some kind. With that sort of attitude we would not have representations anywhere.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Renewal process in Finland´s embassy network is to begin gradually (8.10.2010)
  Number of Finnish embassies and missions abroad to be reduced worldwide (27.5.2010)

Links:
  Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Diplomatic Missions

Helsingin Sanomat