Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at a banquet in honour of President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and Mrs Medvedeva on 20 April 2009

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Let me once more express my happiness that you, Mr President, have come on this state visit to our country. Finland is, of course, familiar to you from your days in St. Petersburg.

This particular visit is connected with a very special historical perspective. The year 1809 marked the end of Finland’s political union with Sweden, which lasted almost seven hundred years. A period of our nation’s autonomy began within the Russian Empire. This period included many positive developments but also difficult stages.

Tomorrow we will visit Porvoo together, where the first Finnish Diet was assembled. On that occasion, Emperor and Grand Duke Alexander I promised to respect Finland's constitutional laws and Finns' religion and rights. He also gave there a famous speech in which he said that Finland had now been raised to the status of a nation among nations.

Three weeks ago, these events were replayed as a historic cavalcade in Porvoo and the following day I participated in the opening of a series of cultural events of the commemorative year in St. Petersburg together with Governor Matviyenko. A permanent achievement of the year will be the construction of Finland House in St. Petersburg, which will open in the autumn.

This building, too, is in many ways part of our shared history. Not many Finns even know that the Presidential Palace has an imperial art collection that includes over thirty works. Finnish painting was then at early stages of its development, and it was good that the emperors considered it important to include works particularly by Finnish artists for the collection.

Both Russia and Finland have gone through different phases since our roads separated. Today the relations between our two countries are excellent and our contacts are regular.

Cooperation covers all areas of social life, and also our citizens have found each other. Different civic organizations perform important work to increase interaction and to develop cross-border cooperation.

Russians are the largest group of foreign visitors in our country. Last year Finland's missions in Russia granted 750,000 visas. This figure is higher than in any other Member State of the European Union. We are also frequent visitors to Russia. Many Finns work in Russia and Finnish companies employ tens of thousands Russians.

The functioning of the border is important for both nations. We still have work to do so that the border is functioning efficiently and safely. This is everyday friendship.

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The present economic crisis and the events that led to it show that the global financial architecture must really be developed. The broader goal should be a fair globalization that promotes stable growth, provides adequate financing for enterprises and responds to the needs of workers for decent employment. Finland wants to be an active player in international issues – as a Member State of the European Union and as a member of the global community.

The need to promote good governance, also on the international level, has been highlighted in the process of globalization, when interaction and interdependence between citizens and between states has increased.

President Medvedev, You have strongly appealed for the advancement of the rule of law development in Russia. I agree with you. The significance of the rule of law is very important. It creates for citizens security and belief in democracy. Laws become real through good governance and the rule of law. People trust that what is done is true and right. Good governance ensures a reliable operating environment for the private sector, investments and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

This is also our experience. In Finland's development into a modern welfare society and one of the most competitive countries in the world, education, science and culture have also had a decisive significance.

Research and technology are becoming important areas of cooperation between Finland and Russia. A year ago, an innovation centre was established in St. Petersburg, through which Russians can engage with the Finnish actors in this field. Last autumn Rusnano, which specialises in nanotechnology, started cooperation with the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

Last year Russia became our most important trading partner in both exports and imports. The amount of investments also increased. Finnish investments have traditionally focused mainly on the St. Petersburg and Moscow regions, although the biggest Finnish investment of all time has in fact been made in power and heat production in western Siberia.

For Finland as a Member State of the European Union it is very important that relations between the EU and Russia are strengthened and current negotiations on a new basic treaty to proceed. We also hope that Russia's negotiations for membership of the World Trade Organization will be brought to a positive conclusion as soon as possible.

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Economic growth is important, but we must also make sure that it does not take place at the expense of the environment. The Copenhagen Climate Conference in December must achieve a comprehensive global agreement on an international climate regime. I hope that we all show responsibility in order to achieve a good result.

Russia and Finland are coastal states of the Baltic Sea. Environmental cooperation between these countries has increased rapidly. Unfortunately, the condition of the Baltic Sea is still poor. Saving the Baltic Sea requires broad cooperation in order to give future generations a clean Baltic Sea.

Today’s discussions have also included the issues of the Gulf of Finland as a traffic and transport channel, maritime safety as well as our preparedness to prevent accidents - and increasing wastewater problems from agriculture were discussed, too. I hope that we will strongly continue our environmental cooperation even though the economic situation is more challenging than before.

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Neighbourhood is a natural basis for cooperation, from which both parties - Russia and Finland - benefit.

Allow me to propose a toast to you and your wife, to the success of Russia and the Russian people, and to the cooperation between our two countries.