Foreign Minister Kanerva met with David Miliband in London

“An easy-going meeting rich in substance”, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva said about his visit with Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday, 16 October. “We share many common views concerning core political issues, such as the EU Reform Treaty, EU external relations and many global affairs starting from climate change”, Kanerva stated to Finnish foreign correspondents in London.

The foreign ministers discussed the EU Reform Treaty and the Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government to be held in Lisbon. Also on the agenda were relations between Russia and the EU, and the situations in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iran.

“Britain is a central player for Finland and has the same view of foreign policy as Finland. The country is also an important trans-Atlantic player. We have many reasons to deepen our contacts with Britain”, Kanerva continued.

As to the European Union’s external relations, particular attention was paid to relations with Russia. Kanerva said he had described the foreign and security policy cooperation conducted by Finland, Sweden and Norway to Foreign Secretary Miliband. For all three, Russia is a partner country.

“We have an everyday relation especially with Russia. We come into contact with Russia at Arctic regions and also in the Baltic Sea region”, Kanerva explained.

“Russia and the European Union need one another. It’s evident that it is unequivocally in Europe’s best interests to include Russia in all our activities.”

In Foreign Minister Kanerva’s view, the European Union should be able to speak with Russia in one voice. Conflicting voices weaken the Union’s credibility.

“The situation should not be allowed to reach a point where each EU Member State thinks it necessary to establish bilateral relations with Russia. Otherwise, not a single stone of the EU’s construction will remain standing, if each EU Member State handles bilateral relations individually.”

The day-long visit also included a meeting with Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague of the Conservative Party and a breakfast event with the local National Coalition Party chapter in London.