Kanerva: EU–Russian dialogue should continue
The Finnish News Agency STT
On Wednesday in Tallinn, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (National Coalition Party) strongly denounced the same day’s events in Moscow. “All the available information indicates that a clear infringement of diplomatic immunity occurred, and this cannot be considered acceptable,” the Foreign Minister stated.
He considered it important that all EU bodies clearly condemn the breach of the Vienna Convention. Common measures should, however, be coordinated under the leadership of Germany, the EU Presidency, Kanerva stressed.
As a result of the dispute, Estonia on Tuesday had even called for cancellation of the EU–Russian Summit scheduled for May. In Kanerva’s opinion, this wouldn’t be appropriate. “Maintaining dialogue ensures reaching a positive solution better than postponing a meeting that has already been agreed,” he said.
The Foreign Minister stressed that EU–Russian Summits are an institution that Finland has taken part in building and that should be utilised particularly when there are acute problems on the agenda. “That gives the parties the opportunity to present grounds on behalf of their own views, and without this the different views cannot be reconciled,” he continued.
Paet thanked Finland for support
During his trip to Estonia, Foreign Minister Kanerva met with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. The two Foreign Ministers held a joint press conference in the early evening.
Foreign Minister Paet thanked Finland for the support Estonia had received in the past few days. Like Kanerva, he also considered it important that the European Union would form a clear common policy with regard to Russia. Estonia wanted to discuss postponement of the EU–Russian Summit because the joint signal given by the EU is important, Paet said.
Kanerva was also asked why the Finnish ambassador in Moscow hasn’t visited the Estonian Embassy in Moscow as a show of support, as the Swedish and Latvian ambassadors have done. Kanerva replied by repeating that all EU actions should be coordinated under the leadership of the EU Presidency, and that all Member States should be able to approve the measures. Then Finland could participate in all jointly agreed actions, he said. Kanerva considered his trip to Estonia useful also because
President Halonen will meet on Thursday in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and she can now receive the latest information on the Estonian situation.
The Finnish News Agency STT– Raisa Karsikko