Finnish president says talks with Russia`s Medvedev useful and fruitful.

HELSINKI, July 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Finnish President Tarja Halonen said
on Monday she planned to discuss with her Russian counterpart Dmitry
Medvedev, who arrives for a two-day visit in Finland, cooperation in the
Baltic and Arctic regions, and Russia's modernization projects.
In an interview with Itar-Tass, she said she was satisfied that the
negotiating process in the relations between Russia and Finland was
promoted through personal contacts. "I often meet with President Medvedev
and I think such talks are very useful and fruitful," she said.
"Finland and Russia have very good relations," the Finnish president
said. "Diplomatic relations between our countries were established 90
years ago, and it creates good possibilities to look both at the past and
at the future."
"There are no big political problems between our states," she said,
adding that the ties between Finland and Russia "are broad and
comprehensive and are not limited only to the interstate level." Many
Finland's private individuals, organizations and companies have contacts
with Russia, "and it is good," she noted.
However, she said that "since the ties are so close, there arise
practical problems and challenges that should be solved through joint
efforts." In her words, some of these problems are solved within the
Russian-EU relations.
According to Mrs Halonen, of major interest during the forthcoming
talks with the Russian president are modernization problems in Russia. "I
believe here we can find new areas of cooperation," she stressed and added
that she supported "President Medvedev's efforts to consolidate and
develop the law-ruled state in Russia and to taper off corruption."
She also said she planned to discuss with her Russian counterpart "all
aspects of bilateral relations, political, economic and cultural ties,
interaction between civil societies," multi-lateral cooperation of the
Baltic states and "joint efforts to save our common sea." Another major
subject for discussion will be "cooperation in the Arctic, which is of
great interest," she added. In her words, among international issues to be
discussed are "efforts to settle the ongoing conflicts and the role of the
United Nations in promoting sustainable development."
Mrs Halonen said she continued to study Russian, along with the
Estonian language. "I would like to know the languages of the neighbouring
countries, since it opens the doors to the culture and society," she
noted, adding, however, that she still needs an interpreter in the talks
with the Russian leaders. "Unless we use English," she said.