Russia ? Finland: developing cooperation : Russian Geographical ...

On 16 October 2012 took place a work meeting between the representatives of the Russian Geographical Society and ?Finland ? Russia? Society.

Founded in 1944, ?Finland-Russia? Society is one of the biggest social organizations in Finland with President of Finland, Mauno Koivisto being its Honorary President. The main direction of ?Finland ? Russia? Society lies in cooperation with social organizations, representative and department structures of the Russian Federation. Certain attention is paid to the establishment of student and scientific exchange between Finnish and Russian universities, interaction between non-governmental organizations addressing Finno-Ugric issues, proposal and realization of common programmes in terms of the Arctic region exploration. ?Finland ? Russia? Society is one of the initiators of establishing non-governmental organization the Finnish Arctic Society which is believed to become a locomotive for the Finnish Arctic research and a discussion platform for the representatives of national business-structures who are interested in expanding their presence in the Arctic region. The Society also plays an active role in organizing an annual Russian-Finnish cultural forum which is due on 23-24 September 2013 in Veliky Novgorod.

Members of the meeting

Finland

?Finland-Russia? Society?s Chairman, Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the Russian Federation H. Talvitie

General Secretary of ?Finland-Russia? Society M. Hannus

Russia

Secretary of the Group for Connections with the Parliament of the Republic of Finland to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation A. Belov

Executive Director of the Russian Geographical Society G. Oleynik

First Deputy of Executive Director of the Russian Geographical Society L. Ovchinnikova

Advisor to the President of the Russian Geographical Society on International Affairs S. Katikov

Head of External Cooperation Department of Executive Directorate of the Russian Geographical Society G. Khalimova

The Finnish counterparts highly appreciate the modern activity of the Russian Geographical Society as a social organization targeting at the development of partner relations in the spheres of geography, ecology and culture. At the end of the meeting the directions of possible partnership were outlined.

Prospects of cooperation:

-????????? Common projects on environmental protection and preservation of traditional household and lifestyle of the indigenous peoples in the Arctic region;

-????????? Realization of student and scientific exchange between universities of the two countries, particularly ? engagement of Finnish students and young scientists in the field stage of the archaeological expedition ?Kyzyl-Kuragino? season 2013;

-????????? Preparation and holding of common exhibitions including the ones covering the participation of the eminent Finnish political, social and scientific figures in the life of the Russian Geographical Society in the times when Finland was a part of the Russian Empire.

-????????? Participation of the Russian Geographical Society in international events held by ?Finland-Russia? Society, particularly in the summit of non-governmental and social organizations ?Baltic Sea NGO Forum? (April 2013) and Russian-Finnish culture forum (September 2013).

Source: http://int.rgo.ru/news/russia-finland-developing-cooperation/

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