At the press conference Finland's Minister for Nordic Co-operation, Jan Vapaavuori, noted that “the choice of Saint Petersburg for the meeting is an indication of the importance and prioritisation of this co-operation; 10% of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ budget is allocated to co-operation with our neighbouring countries”.

At a meeting with the Governor of Saint Petersburg, it was emphasised that the City Administration pays particular attention to co-operation with the Nordic countries. “You are our closest neighbours and our most important economic partners”, Valentina Matvinenko said.

In turn, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Halldór Ásgrímsson, remarked that within Russian-Nordic co-operation, already over 15 years old, “the social sphere, health care, the prevention of human trafficking, and promoting gender equality are of utmost importance”. These issues were discussed at the meeting with Vice-Governor, L.A. Kostkina. Since the signing of the Protocol of Intent with Saint Petersburg regarding the social sphere in 2007, over 14 programmes have been completed.

During their visit to Saint Petersburg, the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation familiarised themselves with the diversity of the co-operation, and also identified new opportunities for joint activities between the Nordic countries and Northwest Russia.

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Information Office in Saint Petersburg was established in 1995 to promote co-operation between the Nordic countries and Russia.

Andrey Anisimov

Phone +7 812 336 7580
Mobile +7 921 917 0643
aa@norden.ru