The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin (left), and the president of Finland,
Sauli Niinistö, in June 2012. They are laughing because they have just
agreed to play ice hockey together. Who won? Both of them, because
they played on the same side. This is the right policy! :)
Sauli Niinistö, in June 2012. They are laughing because they have just
agreed to play ice hockey together. Who won? Both of them, because
they played on the same side. This is the right policy! :)
Regarding the relations between Russia and Finland, since yesterday there have been some good signs of recovery. Perhaps the worst "media war" is over now. (See my previous article.) Yesterday, Russian media released three excellent and even-handed articles. I add links here for them who want to know more or check these things by themselves:
Third article was released by ITAR-TASS.
In short, some false information has been corrected. Now Russian media knows that Finnish criminologist Johan Bäckman has spread disinformation to them.
Finally, I want to take one great quote from the article written by Sergei Selin (Rosbalt). I can only say "amen" for this and hope the case is closed. I think misunderstanding was the biggest reason for this conflict. Peace! :)
«А
вот совсем другой участок — российско-финляндский. В реальной плоскости
отношения двух стран выглядят буквально идиллическими. Никаких военных и
территориальных споров. Товарооборот близок по величине к
российско-французскому или российско-британскому. Именно по выдаваемым
финнами шенгенским визам (около миллиона в год) жители российского
Северо-Запада в основном и путешествуют в Европу. Сотни тысяч
петербуржцев регулярно выезжают в приграничные Лаппеенранту и Иматру,
чтобы прошвырнуться по магазинам или сводить детишек в аквапарк.
Но
пропагандистская картинка совсем о другом. Она о бедствиях в Финляндии
нескольких бывших россиянок, конфликтующих с мужьями или ставших
объектами финской ювенальной юстиции. Поставщик и оформитель всех этих
историй – финский юрист Йохан Бекман. Он регулярно присылает свои
доклады в российские средства информации, и его сообщения приводят в
действие всю российскую государственную машину. Негодует детский
омбудсмен, возвышает голос протеста министр иностранных дел. Официально
выдвигается требование учредить российско-финляндскую комиссию, которая
занялась бы разбором конфликтов, происходящих, надо напомнить, в чужом
государстве и с людьми, добровольно туда переселившимися.
Вопрос
не в том, хороша ли ювенальная юстиция, и во всем ли правдив Бекман.
Тут другое впечатляет. Что публичная повестка отношений между двумя
странами полностью состоит из сообщений одного человека, каждодневно
доводимых российскими властями до сведения всех россиян. Вряд ли
реальное сотрудничество с Финляндией и бурное пропагандистское ее
обличение смогут мирно сосуществовать до бесконечности. И тут тоже хвост
уже виляет собакой.»
The English translation:
"But then a very different area - a Russian-Finnish. To the point where the relationship between the two countries looks just idyllic. No military and territorial disputes. Turnover is close to the Russian-French or Russian-British. It is for a Schengen visa issued by the Finns (about one million per year) residents of Russia's North-West in the ground and travel to Europe. Hundreds of thousands of St. Petersburg regularly travel to the border Lappeenranta and Imatra to tax free shopping or set their kids to the water park.
But the propaganda picture is something else. It is a disaster in Finland several former Russian women in conflict with their husbands or trafficked Finnish juvenile justice. Supplier and designer of all these stories is a Finnish lawyer, Johan Bäckman. He regularly sends his reports to the Russian media, and his messages drive the entire Russian state machine. Resents children's ombudsman, exalt the voice of protest foreign minister. Officially put forward the demand to establish a Russian-Finnish commission that would deal with analysis of conflicts taking place, it must be recalled, are going in a foreign country and among the people who settled there voluntarily.
The question is not whether good or juvenile justice, and is Bäckman truthful in all what he is saying. Instead, it is astonishing that the public agenda of relations between the two countries is completely based on the messages of the one single person who is communicating with all Russians through the Russian authorities. It is unlikely that real cooperation with Finland and its denunciation of violent propaganda can coexist indefinitely. And here, too, the tail is wagging the dog."
The English translation:
"But then a very different area - a Russian-Finnish. To the point where the relationship between the two countries looks just idyllic. No military and territorial disputes. Turnover is close to the Russian-French or Russian-British. It is for a Schengen visa issued by the Finns (about one million per year) residents of Russia's North-West in the ground and travel to Europe. Hundreds of thousands of St. Petersburg regularly travel to the border Lappeenranta and Imatra to tax free shopping or set their kids to the water park.
But the propaganda picture is something else. It is a disaster in Finland several former Russian women in conflict with their husbands or trafficked Finnish juvenile justice. Supplier and designer of all these stories is a Finnish lawyer, Johan Bäckman. He regularly sends his reports to the Russian media, and his messages drive the entire Russian state machine. Resents children's ombudsman, exalt the voice of protest foreign minister. Officially put forward the demand to establish a Russian-Finnish commission that would deal with analysis of conflicts taking place, it must be recalled, are going in a foreign country and among the people who settled there voluntarily.
The question is not whether good or juvenile justice, and is Bäckman truthful in all what he is saying. Instead, it is astonishing that the public agenda of relations between the two countries is completely based on the messages of the one single person who is communicating with all Russians through the Russian authorities. It is unlikely that real cooperation with Finland and its denunciation of violent propaganda can coexist indefinitely. And here, too, the tail is wagging the dog."
The presidents Putin (left) and Niinistö are playing ice hockey.
Ice hockey is like a "national sport" in both Russia and Finland.
Ice hockey is like a "national sport" in both Russia and Finland.
Just want you to know I like your blog. May peace on earth. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you very much for your compliment, sir. I'm very glad to hear that. All the best and blessings to you, too. :)
DeleteHi Teisuka,
ReplyDeleteThank you for following up with the news about the media war between Russia and Finland. It's really a relief that the "war" is over. But I think both sides should learn a lesson from all this drama. It's just unimaginable or even ridiculous that Russian media would rely on Johan Bäckman as their only news source, which led to misunderstandings instead of truth. I still don't understand the motive of Johan Bäckman in spreading wrong information. Maybe it's not only about personal attention.
Here I'd like to add something off the topic now. :)I don't know much about North European countries, but I have always been very much impressed by the high living standards and excellent benefit systems enjoyed by people in these countries, such as Norway, Finland and Sweden. And it seems to me that the worldwide economic crisis has not influenced these countries much. I don't know whether you could share some of your ideas about the key to the success of the these countries, especially your country -- Finland. :)I suppose the hard work of its people, its natural resources and its comparatively small population have all contributed to the prosperity of the country. But there has to been other factors. Anyway, I think you should feel lucky to be a citizen of Finland.:) May more blessings come to you! Have a nice weekend!
Bao
Hello, Bao.
DeleteThank you again for your profound comment and compliments. You are right, it is "lucky to be a citizen of Finland". :) What are the keys to success here? Ah, that's the big question, indeed. There are many factors, as you assumed: hard work, small population, and so on. The high living standards and good benefit system are also a result of purposeful social policy.
Finnish politics has old principles and priorities, regarding these things. It means, state "must" take care of all people, especially weak and poor people. Nordic countries are so called "welfare states". It means, no one can starve to death here. In short: values and politics has been good. I think we are all enough "socialists" here. Hahaha. ;)
The worldwide economic crisis has not influenced these countries so much than east European countries, that's true, too. But the crisis is affecting also here: so called "the ax politics", besides we have lot of layoffs recently (unemployment rate of Finland is now about 8 %), and so on. Some good things in this society are changing these days, and I'm worried about that. Frankly, I'm worried about the situation of global economy, and also about world affairs. But these are too big things to handle in short...
Have a nice weekend to you, my friend. :)