“The door is still open”

“At the Nordic Council, we have been very happy and satisfied with the new opportunities for co-operation in the Baltic Sea and Arctic regions  that emerged after the end of the Cold War. Recently, however, we have had to recognise that we cannot take eternal peace or democratic development for granted,” Höskuldur Þórhallsson explained at the 24th BSPC Conference in Rostock today.

“Sadly, we have seen attempts to return to the old zero-sum game that was the reality before the end of the Cold War. With a chaotic neighbourhood in the south, the conflict in Ukraine should de-escalate. This will benefit not only Russia and Ukraine, but those of us in Northern Europe as well. We do not need conflicts or war in Europe, but should instead unite against barbaric forces such as the so-called Islamic State.

Co-operation with Russia on the Session programme

Höskuldur Þórhallsson also pointed out that the situation in the Baltic Sea region is unaffected by the Russian annexation of Ukraine or developments within Russia’s own borders. The Nordic Council of Ministers has closed its offices in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad following its unfortunate stigmatisation as a “foreign agent” – a phrase that recalls depressing memories from the Stalin era.

“The Nordic Council has had to postpone or cancel various events with Russian politicians including the annual roundtable to which BSPC was also invited. And although it’s not “business and usual”, the door is still open to co-operation as and when this becomes possible.”

“At the upcoming annual Session in Reykjavik at the end of October, we will be discussing future Nordic co-operation with Russia. It has an impact throughout the Baltic Sea region, and I hope that the situation de-escalates – there more than enough other challenges to contend with at the moment,” he concluded.