Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a function to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Alexander Institute, 15 March 2007

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For the centuries, Finnish and Russians have lived side by side. This is why our relationship has been important for us both – and sometimes also difficult. This closeness has coloured what we know about each other and also the research focusing on our relations. Today, our relations are in excellent shape, and there is genuine interest in cooperation to be found in various sectors and at various levels in our respective societies.

Russia will continue to be our biggest neighbour. But elsewhere, too, there is growing interest in Russia; there is thus an obvious demand for information and research on Russia, and not only in Finland. The increasing interest in Russia abroad is generating both competition and opportunities. We Finns have a lot to contribute to international research cooperation, within the EU and otherwise.

It is in Finland’s interests – and, in my view, in the EU’s interests and in Russia’s interests too – for the EU to pursue a uniform, constructive and consistent policy towards Russia. At the same time, each Member State — including Finland — must see to the development of its bilateral relations. Relations with Russia are of lasting significance for Finland’s interests and foreign policy — for our well-being and security.

So what is it like, this Russia, as a neighbour, as a trading partner, as a country? In Finland and elsewhere, very disparate assessments are offered concerning development in Russia. My view is that there are differing parallel trends. Democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance and economic growth are each developing at their own pace, though all of them are needed to create a modern state. It is thus quite possible that some can see clear signs of progress with democracy and the institutions of a constitutional state, while at the same time others express concern about Russia’s authoritarian operating culture and frosty attitude to NGOs, for instance.

What is important to note for the big picture and for the future is the often-declared goal of the Russian leadership to develop their country as a European state with respect for common values. This translates into ever-greater opportunities for cooperation and interaction in both economic relations and social politics.

As the foundation for a successful policy, we need as well researched assessments as possible of trends in Russia’s external relations and internal situation. The broad disparity of the assessments being made underlines the importance of independent research and the value of a wide range of viewpoints. Universities should play a central role in such research.

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The end of the cold war does not mean that research on Russia and eastern Europe is any less important. In Finland, this was understood earlier than was the case elsewhere. While the West generally speaking reduced the resources devoted to Russian research in the 1990s, Finland decided to move in the opposite direction. The Academy of Finland’s research programmes, and especially the founding of the Alexander Institute, are evidence of this. Finland proceeded on a basis of cooperation between universities through nationwide networking and a multidisciplinary approach. These solutions have proved their worth. In ten years, the Alexander Institute has developed into the biggest research body in its field in Europe.

It is important that the decisions on research policy which are significant for Finnish society are carried out consistently and with purpose. The Alexander Institute has been rated to be of extremely high quality in international comparisons in the field, for instance in a University of Helsinki research assessment and in the Academy of Finland’s selection of centres of excellence. An international assessment team gave the Institute the highest possible score for 24 individual aspects out of 25. The Institute was put in the world’s top five per cent, and the team considered that it could develop into the global leader in its field.

The financial basis for top research must be safeguarded in the long term. Established forms must also be found for teaching in the field. At the moment, we do not have a single permanent chair in the fields of Russian society, economics, history or government, even though large numbers of highly competent young PhDs graduate every year. There are also a large number of experienced senior researchers working on Russia and eastern Europe. The next step is to create permanent teaching and research posts.

The Finns have always had and still have the benefit of practical experience of Russian society. Business life, the public sector and NGOs are engaged in constant and intensive contacts with Russia. It is a richness that the role of universities and research centres is understood also as a form of interaction and a mutual learning process, not simply as the dissemination of academic information. Right from the start, the Alexander Institute has kept in close touch with actors in Russia, the Baltic region and more extensively in eastern Europe.

As well as conducting research on Russia, we should remember that the end of the cold war means we also have the opportunity to study developments in eastern Europe more generally. The new Member States of the European Union did not merely merge into European values and institutions; they all brought their own history, culture and economic potential with them.

In southeastern Europe, the break-up of Yugoslavia and the development challenges in the area have created a politically sensitive situation which is extremely difficult to control. Many of the new countries that have emerged out of the former Soviet Union are also still seeking their own way forward. Intensifying research on these areas too will create preconditions for dialogue and the advance of democracy.

With these words, I should like to wish the Alexander Institute a very happy 10th anniversary. I wish you and your partners every success in coping with the challenges of the future. Your work is really needed.