Putin On Working Visit To Finland

1 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to Finland today on a two-day working visit.
During his stay, Putin and Finnish President Tarja Halonen will travel to the Finnish presidential summer residence at Kultaranta for wide-ranging talks.

Trade between the two states amounted to $12 billion last year, and is growing at a quicker pace this year, according to ITAR-TASS.

The agency also said one of the topics Putin will raise with Halonen will be the issue of ethnic-minority rights.

Russia has complained ethnic Russians living in the Baltic republics -- especially Latvia and Estonia -- face discrimination.

(ITAR-TASS)