Russian President visited Finland

The Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin, visited Finland at the invitation of Mrs Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, on August 1-2, 2005. President Putin arrived at Kultaranta, the official summer residence of the Finnish President, on Monday August 1 for talks and dinner.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and doctor Pentti Arajärvi in Kultaranta.

The talks continued on Tuesday August 2. Following a joint press conference, the two Presidents departed for Turku, where they had lunch and visited the University of Turku. The two-day visit ended early on Tuesday evening.

Among the topics for discussion in the talks between the two Presidents were bilateral Finnish-Russian affairs, and relations between the European Union and Russia. President Putin last visited Finland in 2001, when he came on a state visit accompanied by his wife.

The Presidents in a joint press conference in Kultaranta.

Dinner in Kultaranta and luncheon at Suomen Joutsen ship in Turku hosted by President Tarja Halonen