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The relationship between Finland and Russia is never easy. When a Finnish minister or head of state visits Russia, he must maintain the good relations that are Finland’s strategy to avoid problems with the Kremlin. Finland has the EU’s longest border with Russia (1,340 km) and a history of defending itself over and over again.
At the same time, it is not possible to remain silent about problems. Before Pekka Haavisto’s meeting with Sergei Lavrov in St. Petersburg on Monday, the problems were considerable. It was not just about the imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny after surviving a poisoning attempt by the FSB. Before that, Lavrov had openly humiliated the EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell in Moscow. Haavisto was the EU prime minister to meet Lavrov after the Moscow fiasco. He traveled to St. Petersburg during a scathing exhortation by the Finnish establishment not to embarrass Finland.
The pressure was enormous. Haavisto was prepared.
At the press conference, in turn, he addressed human rights issues that Lavrov himself avoided. The Russian Foreign Minister spoke about laudable bilateral projects, Haavisto about Navalny.
– Right now, the EU and Russia have difficult relations. The illegal annexation of Crimea resulted in sanctions. The fact that opposition politician Navalny was poisoned with nerve poison also had consequences, Haavisto said.
He also mentioned the scattered demonstrations, sexual minorities in Chechnya and the imprisoned historian Yuri Dmitriev.
Lavrov responded, as before, by blaming the EU for the bad relations.
– As for the illegal demonstrations and which EU diplomats participated in them, we have already explained everything to the Europeans. You only have immunity if you don’t interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. EU diplomats violated the Vienna Convention (on diplomatic relations), Lavrov said.
– It is the task of diplomats to inform their countries of origin of what is happening in the countries where they are stationed. That is fully in line with the Vienna Agreement, Haavisto responded.
In a subtle insult Lavrov, on the one hand, promised that Navalny would not damage relations with Finland. On the other hand, he made it clear that Finland was only repeating instructions received in Brussels.
– We know that in Brussels it is decided how to formulate it. We listen to it regularly and the wording is always the same.
According to Lavrov, virtually nothing remains of Russia’s relations with the EU.
– Of our relationships, there is very little left. We are willing to work together on the climate and the environment, but that has nothing to do with our relationships. The EU has deliberately destroyed them, Lavrov said.
At the same time, Lavrov announced that he had no problems with Finland.
– We have good relations with the different EU countries. Our relations with Finland are a good example of a relationship that is based on the interests of the countries and from which both benefit, Lavrov said.
Kremlin likes to show that you can certainly cooperate with the West. For Finland, on the one hand, it means an opening to pursue Finnish interests, on the other hand, it is a trap. It is therefore not surprising that Haavisto was quick to dismiss Lavrov’s praise, noting that he had spoken with Josep Borrell, Ann Linde and Heiko Maas, among others, before going to St. Petersburg.
After the meeting, it is clear that Pekka Haavisto passed the litmus test. However, it has failed to alter Russia’s positions. No one had expected that either. This type of meeting of Foreign Ministers never leads to any progress. For a Finnish foreign minister, it is above all important not to be bothered by threats, flattery or subtle insults.
Read more:
EU Foreign Minister Borrell responds to demands for his resignation
Michael Winiarski: The mood between the EU and Russia at the lower level
