Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja at the Finland-Russia Society seminar: The environment accorded a special place in Finnish-Russian relations
Press release 213/2004
24.9.2004
Relations between Finland and Russia are better than ever, stated Erkki Tuomioja, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Finland-Russia Society Seminar on Friday 24 September. Neighbour relations are stable and developing constantly, as reflected in increased trade, transport, and investing as well as on the political scene in the regular meetings of leading figures, where all issues are discussed openly and in a constructive manner.
In Tuomioja’s view, in cooperation between the European Union and Russia, environmental affairs are particularly important to Finland. Our joint interests extend from the consequences of global climate change to nuclear safety, maritime safety and the state of frontier waterways. Although with regard to the Kyoto Protocol the European Union had to be content with the promise that ratification process would be accelerated, we have recently received encouraging signals of progress as concerns ratification. For the European Union, ratification would be cause for great satisfaction and would support efforts to bring a halt to the advance of the greenhouse effect, Tuomioja said.
The Foreign Minister also pointed out that the European Union sees human rights issues as an important element of the Union’s relations with Russia, for which reason the dialogue on human rights has touched upon international problems as well as the situation in Russia, especially Chechnya. In the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, for instance, for several years now the European Union has brought up the situation in Chechnya, expressing concern over human rights violations such as disappearances, illegal detainment and torture.
Finland has, in various connections, called attention to prevention of failure to mete out punishment for human rights violations as an important step in building an operational culture that respects human rights, the Foreign Minister explained. Those guilty of human rights violations should be brought to justice. Russia is also encouraged to support good cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. Overall, the international community has had little presence in Chechnya. While we have condemned terrorism in all its forms, we have supported, and continue to support, the finding of a political solution to the crisis in Chechnya. A policy of power will not bring an end to the war, Tuomioja stressed.
An agreement on neighbouring area cooperation between Finland and Russia was concluded 12 years ago, with the emphasis on cooperation between official bodies. In the past few years, development of civil society has become a central priority. The main emphasis is on projects aiming to strengthen civil society and on projects in the sectors of social welfare and health and the environment. The Foreign Minister places much value on the already established role of organisations implementing small but significant grassroots-level neighbouring area cooperation projects.
On the whole, the results achieved through neighbouring area cooperation are largely in line with Finland’s key interests. Given this, the framework of appropriations for neighbouring area cooperation in my view are insufficient, Tuomioja stated.
Additional information: Susanna Parkkonen, Press Attaché, tel. +358 40 545 1275, and Elena Gorschkow, Parliamentary Assistant, tel. +358 50 586 9155.