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Sat, 02 Aug, 2014 12:09:20 AM Soini suggests bilateral talks with Russia on sanctions FTimes-STT Report, August 2  President Sauli Niinistö, visited Heinola on Friday. Photo – Lehtikuva. The president, Sauli Niinistö, on Friday said Finland should be prepared for possible counter-measures to the EU sanctions against Russia.
“We have seen the first Russian counter-measures and they are not directed against Finland,” said Niinistö referring to the Russian ban on EU exports while speaking at a public gathering marking the 175th anniversary of Heinola.
The president also said he did not directly discuss the issue over phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
According to Niinistö, the sanctions are not being discussed directly with Russia and that Finland will adhere to the agreed decision by the European Union.
The president expects the indirect effects of sanctions against Russia to have greater ramifications than their direct impacts, reported Yle, adding that Niinistö said it is important to tell Russia what kinds of actions from it are unacceptable.
“We are moving into a very negatively-charged atmosphere. Immaterial walls, at least, are forming in Europe between West and East,” said Niinistö, the Yle report added.
President Sauli Niinistö met citizens at the market in Heinola on Friday. Photo – Lehtikuva. The president expressed concern at the increasingly intensified divisions between East and West.
Meanwhile, Timo Soini, chair of the opposition Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), suggested that Finland led by President Ninnistö should discuss the sanctions with Russia on a bilateral basis.
The Finns Party leader expressed his views in an interview with the Maaseudun Televaisuus, a Finnish-language news outlet that covers news on agriculture and forestry.
Soini pointed out that the president has handled well the relationship with Russia and that it can be utilised.
Later, in an interview with news agency STT, Soini clarified his point saying that Finland should abide by the EU sanctions but discuss with Russia about its counter-measures.
There is a risk that Finland will fall into Russia’s counter-sanctions, if the negotiation link with Russia is left only to the EU, said Soini.
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| Tuesday, 23 April, 2024 |
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