Closing of the international workshop conference Russia and Finland in a Multipolar World: 1809-2009

Closing of the international workshop conference Russia and Finland in a Multipolar World: 1809-2009 was held in Petrozavodsk State University.

The final plenary session was lead by Professor Victor Vasiliev, President of PetrSU, and Alexey Komarov, Director of the Scientific Center of History of North Europe and the Baltic States of the World History Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow.

The conference was held in PetrSU on October 20-22 under the auspices of the Public Chamber of Russia, the Council of State of Finland, Government of the Republic of Karelia, the Russian Humanitarian Science Foundation and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

More than 150 representatives of scientific and educational centers, bodies of the government and public organizations of Russia, Finland and Sweden have taken part in the forum. In total at the plenary and breakup group sessions there have been presented 80 papers and reports. The collection of materials of the conference has been published.

Within the scope of the scientific forum there worked four breakup groups: The Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire (1809-1917), Mutual relations between the RSFSR/USSR and Finland (1918-1944), Cooperation between the USSR/RF and Finland (1944-2009), Preservation of Common Historical and Cultural Heritage in Karelia and Finland. Participants of the Conference have considered a wide range of questions concerning the 200-year history of contacts between Russia and Finland.

During the exchange of opinions of participants of the international conference it has noted been that modern good neighbourly relations between Russia and Finland are featured for intensive political dialogue, high level of trade, economic and cultural relations, as well as direct inclusion of regions of the Northwest of Russia in cooperation. within the recent years after disintegration of the USSR and entrance of Finland in the EU there has been formed a new configuration of relations between Russia and Finland. Diverse and abundant experience of cooperation between the two countries and people has been gained which allows to look forward with confidence opens new directions of cooperation in various spheres of political, social, economic and cultural life in the context of multipolar world.

Heads of breakup groups of the scientific conference spoke at the final plenary session. They have thanked representatives of the steering committee of the Conference for the granted intellectual platform which has allowed scientists and statesmen of Russia and Finland to discuss the peak moments of establishment of relations between the two countries and develop lines for future cooperation.

The organizers, in turn, have thanked participants of the Conference for interesting and factful reports reflecting the essence of historical moments in mutual relations of Russia and Finland.

E.Ananeva, observer of The International Life magazine, has invited participants of the international conference held in Petrozavodsk State University to cooperation with the edition.