Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland




LUNCHEON FOR PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE OTHER EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS AND DELEGATIONS
AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ON 22.10.1999


It gives me pleasure to welcome representatives of both sides at the summit between the European Union and the Russian Federation to this Presidential Palace, which has also been an Imperial residence during our shared history.

Finland has often been able to serve as the host country for summit meetings. Our role has sometimes been limited to providing the "electricity and atmosphere"- so to speak - but there have also been occasions when we have been able to offer a great deal more than good services.

I am especially pleased that the fourth in a series of summits between the European Union and Russia is taking place in Finland and that here in Helsinki today Russia has announced her own strategy in relation to the European Union. This I regard as one of the highlights of our turn at the helm of the Union. It is in line with our Presidency’s priorities, in which developing relations with Russia ranks very high.

We have made the promotion of the Union’s policy and thinking on Russia one of the goals of our Presidency. In line with that we have sought from the very beginning to increase awareness of the EU on the part of the Russians as well. With the accession of Finland, the EU and Russia became neighbours with a common border. The shortest route from Russia to the rest of Europe nowadays runs through Finland. We are proud of the fact that the border crossing points between Finland and Russia are the most efficient on all of Russia’s frontiers. What is so far the only point of physical contact between the European Union and Russia is a living example of what we have termed "positive interdependence" in our Northern Dimension initiative. The EU and Russia are neighbours and partners and cooperation between them across a broad front is only just beginning.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a St. Petersburger, Prime Minister Putin knows the dynamics of Finland and the Baltic Sea region. We are proud of the colossal development that has taken place in northern Europe and which will lead to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joining the EU within a decade. From the perspective of Russia, the north-west is the direction where cooperation and economic interaction are growing and which gains stability from the EU.

Now let me propose a toast to the good health of our esteemed guests.