Professor Aleksandr Dugin of Russia on Sunday said Russia’s attitude towards Finland is very calm and the two neighbouring countries should maintain closer ties.

Dugin’s remarks came at a Helsinki seminar aimed at alleviating the fears against Russia.

He said, “We do not want anything from Finland. On the contrary, we like the country very much.”

According to Dugin, Russia does not want to put pressure on Finland, let alone take control of the country.

The professor criticised the Finnish elite, who, he said, consider Finland as the north-east continuation of the Euro-Atlantic. At the same time, he pointed out Euroasia Russia is thought of as an adversary or even an enemy.

Dugin urged Finland to have a closer cooperation with Russia and by that develop its relation with other Finno-Ugric nations who have closer ties with Russia.

According to him, a pro-West and “Atlantic” Finland does not intimidate Russia.

Excellent partnership will nonetheless result in a neutral Finland and still a better and friendly Finland, observed the professor.

He, however, maintained that Finland has its own way of doing things.