Summary:
The appointment of high-level diplomat Pavel Kuznetsov as Russia’s new ambassador to Finland signals that Finland is an important neighbour to Russia, estimate former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Mr Kuznetsov has worked at the embassy in Helsinki in the 80s and 90s and also speaks Finnish. Mr Talvitie estimates that, in the current situation, it is good that he is already well known in Finland.

Media:  Karjalainen
Date: 15.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Summary:
Vice President of Parliament’s Grand Committee Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP) criticizes the sharp comments of Foreign Minister Timo Soini on the internal transfers of asylum seekers in the EU. Soini said on Monday at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting that Finland will not accept new decisions on the transfer of asylum seekers before all countries have fulfilled their old obligations. According to Tuppurainen, Soini endangers Finland’s solution-seeking EU policy. « It is undoubtedly a problem that not all member states have been involved in the burden sharing. However, the problems are not solved by the fact that the countries that have hitherto acted responsibly are now hitting a full brake », Tuppurainen tells STT.

Summary:
The editorial of Turun Sanomat discusses the meeting of the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Russian President Vladimir Putin taking place in Savonlinna today. The two presidents met already in March but Ukraine was not mentioned then and it has been guessed whether the topic will be raised this time or not. The editorial thinks that it should be discussed to avoid any future incidents. Beside other topics, questions relating to the two countries’ economic relations will probably be on agenda as the counter-sanctions caused by the European Union’s sanctions set to Russia are harming Finland’s export of foods to the country. The meeting will have more meaning to President Niinistö than to President Putin who will mainly arrive to Finland to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary. However, he will listen carefully what President Niinistö has to say about the EU’s current state as well as brexit’s effects.

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat has interviewed Kare Halonen, Finland’s State Secretary for EU Affairs since 2008. He visits Brussels about 15 times a year, and takes part in preparing summits with other EU Member States advisors. The article states that it is quite justified to claim that no one else has had more influence on Finland’s EU policy during the last few years than Mr Halonen. He also acts as Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s EU adviser.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 26.7.2017
Journalist: Pekka Mykkänen
Main source: –

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat writes about the planned new US sanctions against Russia, which would impact i.a. the EU energy companies cooperating with Russia, e.g. on the Nord Stream II gas pipeline. According to Financial Times, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has proposed « possible countermeasures » against the US. According to an EU working document, the EU is concerned about the « detrimental political side effects » caused by new sanctions by the US. The sanctions are expected to affect also the bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö by bringing the presidents’ interests closer together. Finland has been supporting Germany in advancing the pipeline project.