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In Helsinki, summer is usually drowning – Finns are jumping to vacation homes or holidays around the world. However, mid-July 2018 in the capital of Finland is special – it receives D. Trump and V. Putin
Such a role for Helsinki was not a thing – here George HW Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Bill Clinton were in touch
This time, unlike the past, when both sides spoke honestly or not about stability in Europe, leaders arriving in Finland are about to ruin the balance of the Old Continent arrive in Finland
AFP / Scanpix photo / Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump
People watch the circus with interest
"Finns have two points of view, "said Janne Riiheläinen, security expert at Politico. – We have emerged as a mediator in the country and are proud to have a meeting here. But, at the same time, there is anxiety: on what Putin and Trump will agree here. "
When the two leaders met in Helsinki in June, the Finns immediately dusted off old instructions on how to mediate such meetings, and with only a few weeks left, diplomats and other officials immediately or postponed the traditional holidays of July
The Helsinki police has asked in advance for a strengthening of the province – 2,000 people will work at the meeting, officials, while the hotels are waiting 1,4 thousand Journalists from 61 countries
Juha Ristamäki, editor-in-chief of the daily Iltalehti, was also preparing for Vasaroti, but he also changed his plans – the version is now atypically hot.
" The Finns follow the news very carefully. Without a doubt, it's the most important knowledge right now. Not only politics interest people, but they look at all the circus that surrounds the two presidents, "said J. Ristamäki
Scanpix "/ AP Photo / Helsinkis prepared for the meeting of D.Trumpo and V.Putin
This thorough preparation for important events in Helsinki was fixed more than once. In 1990, MB.H.W. and Mr. Gorbachev spoke about the invasion of Iraq in Kuwait, evoking the NATO enlargement and arms control in 1997. Clinton and B.Jelcin
however , most Finnish diplomats are still proud of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. At that time, representatives of 35 countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union, agreed to look for ways to achieve peace, while observers spoke of "the spirit of Helsinki". "Gerald Ford and Leonid Brezhnev in Helsinki in 1975
" We chose because we have experience and we are one of the places where we can organize a safe and competent meeting in the short term " explains Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori – "Whatever happens, Helsinki will not be able to admire or blame, we are just a good place to meet."
Working contacts with Moscow
] True, 2018 and Finland, and the whole world different from 1990 or 1997. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, thus replacing the European territory by the first time since the Second World War and has the ambition to shake the international order
D. Trump has openly hated the European Union and NATO – the US president is convinced that,
Scanpix / "The United States" SIPA Photo / Donald Brief before traveling to Europe
It is not surprising that in the West, more and more concerned about the rebellion of the transatlantic alliance, all the more that D. Trumphas welcomes V. Putin, leader of the kleptocratic regime in Moscow. During the Cold War, Finland prudently balanced the two powers, but the Soviet Union was barely able to collapse, successfully joined the European Union
Examiners speculate the one after the other on what Mr Putin, who has already been well versed in the case of the four previous US Presidents, could come out of Trump in Helsinki. Will he withdraw military exercises in the Baltic States? Does Crimea have anything to do with the recognition of Russia?
During the Cold War, Finland prudently swayed between the two powers, but the Soviet Union nearly collapsed and successfully joined the European Union. Finland has adopted the euro and is cooperating more and more with NATO and the United States
However, Finland wants to show the world that the country has been degraded by the status of eternal neutrality, Helsinki has a very normal working relationship with Moscow. uncertainty. Our security depends to a large extent on the United States, and now there is a chance that we will not lose it ", remarks J. Riiheläinen
The Shadow of History
The Foundations Foreign policy in Finland is diplomacy and dialogue It is not surprising that Trumpa and Putin are very unpopular in the country.
A poll recently showed that D. Trumpa was negatively badessed by 83% Finnish V. Putin – 76%
The Finns expressed dissatisfaction with the leaders of both sides during the Sunday demonstrations, and representatives of the leading Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat recently compared D. Trumpas to the pig, and human rights defenders walked the streets of Helsinki.
Little is known about the content of the meeting. It is unlikely that Truman and Putin will are in question the question of human rights.
Alpo Rusi, who was working for the foreign policy advisor of the then Finnish president, Martti Ahtisaari in 1997, believes that the American and Russian delegations
Scanpix / Photo AP / Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin in Helsinki in 1997
"In 1997 we knew in advance what each country wanted, we do not know now. know exactly what the briefing wants from this meeting, "A.Rusi said.
It is true that the dialogue between Russia and the United States is a positive gesture. On the other hand, A.Rusi is also important where this dialogue will take.
"I hope that they will feel Helsinki and not, for example, the spirit of Munich," said the expert, of course, with the words of British Prime Minister Neville. Chamberlain Capitulation in negotiations with Adolf Hitler in 1938.
