Medvedev to discuss with Halonen security, visas, joint projects

MOSCOW, November 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev
will have negotiations with Finland's President Tarja Halonen, who has
come to Moscow on an official visit. Later on, the two leaders will
continue talks together with delegations from both countries. Medvedev and
Halonen will share results of the negotiations with reporters during a
briefing to be organised following the talks.
The leaders of Russia and Finland will have to discuss a wide range of
issues - from European security to detailed mutual projects.
"During the visit of Tarja Halonen to Russia, the presidents will
exchange views on the formation of renewed architecture of European
security, development of strategic partnership between Russia and the EU,
including the promotion of Russia's initiatives presented over the
Russia-EU summit in Rostov-on-Don on May 31 /project on lifting the visa
requiremens for Russians travelling into the EU and on simplifying visa
regimens with other countries/, improvement of the innovative component of
our economies, cooperation in the framework of the Partnership for
Modernisation, the present state and development of European cooperation
in energy and Russia's plans of joining the WTO," a source in Russia's
presidential administration said. "Besides, they will discuss several
international topics, including the situation around Afghanistan and
Pakistan, the Middle East problem settlement, the problems of the
improvement of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons regimen."
While commenting on cooperation in the economy, the source in the
Kremlin highlighted among the priorities the interaction in high
technology spheres like shipbuilding, energy, pulp complex, and transport.
He said that presently the Agreement on Finland's rent of the Russian part
of the Saimaa Canal and neighbouring territories and on the navigation in
the canal is being ratified.
"In December Halonen and Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are
expected to take part in the opening ceremony of the rapid passenger
railroad connection between St. Petersburg and Helsinki," the source said.
The Kremlin is convinced that the tight and active trade and economic
connections make the firm basis of the Russia-Finland cooperation. Over
the past decade, the trade turnover has grown by over five times. The
amount of direct investments from Finland in Russia's economy has grown,
too. Most of them were made in the production spheres. Despite to certain
decline in the trade turnover during the crisis 2009 to the level of 13.1
billion dollars against 22.4 billion in 2008, Russia remains Finland's
major trade partner. During the fist six months of the current years, the
mutual trade turnover grew by over 20 percent.
"Russia and Finland cooperate constructively in the framework of the Russia-EU dialogue, the UN, international regional structures in the Baltic Region, North of Europe and in the Arctic," the source said.
"We continue the implementation of the project to reconstruct water supply systems in Kaliningrad, and by the end of next year a water clearing project in St. Petersburg will be finalised."
On Monday afternoon, Dmitry Medvedev had an informal meeting with
Tarja Halonen, the Kremlin's press service said.
"The programme of Tarja Halonen's official visit started with an
informal meeting with Dmitry Medvedev," the press service reported. "The two leaders exchanged greetings and talked briefly, and later on Russia's president invited his Finland's counterpart to an informal dinner."
Over the dinner, the two presidents were accompanied by their spouses.
The state visit of Finland's president to Russia will continue till November 11. Besides Moscow, Tarja Halonen will visit Kazan.