Murmansk Finland’s Arctic strategy

- Russia is an important neighbor and partner for us, and we do not wish to operate just in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Stubb said to Helsingin Sanomat when asked why Finland needs such an institution in Murmansk.

- The importance of the Arctic regions has increased. This is part of Finland’s arctic strategy. Among other things we are looking at the area’s energy resources, the Shtokman gas deposit, the role of Finnish business life in the major projects in the area, and also the utilization of the Northeast Passage, the minister added.

Border traffic between Russia and Finland is boosting to an all-time high peak this year. If the traffic continues for the last few months, 2010 is seeing an increase of about ten percent. By the end of 2010 nearly 8 million people will have crossed the Finnish-Russian border, which means an average of one person every four seconds.

As BarentsObserver reported, Finland plans to strengthen its diplomatic presence in Russia and is making preparations for converting the Consulate General branch office in Murmansk, now under the auspices of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, to a Consulate General.

- This will increase our resources, enhance our possibilities of getting Finnish people to work there, Stubb said, and added that the Finns currently are looking for premises in Murmansk to share with Norway.

The Consulate General in Murmansk is one of Finland’s three spearhead projects up north, according to Stubb. In addition, Finland plans to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre in Rovaniemi and to organize an Arctic Council Summit.

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