OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2011. On September 21 Valentin Luntsevich, Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia and Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Karelia, met with deputies of the Parliament of Finland representating the Group of Friendship with Russia. It is chaired by Jouko Skinnari, deputy of the Social Democratic Party of Suomi. The meeting was initiated by the Finnish party. Among the issues discussed during the meeting there was cross-border cooperation and the course of implementation of Karelia European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) program, in particular. Besides, members of the delegation have asked a number of questions concerning studying and teaching Russian language in Finland and Finnish – in Karelia.

Valentin Luntsevich has thanked distinguished guests for the visit and has replied point by point to their questions. Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia has informed representatives of the Group of Friendship that the issue of studying and teaching languages was discussed during visits of Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and Matti Anttonen, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland to the Russian Federation, to Karelia, in the end of August the State Committee of the Republic of Karelia for National Politics, Relations with Public and Religious Associations has prepared a package of measures to support studying Finnish language, approved by Head of the Republic Andrei Nelidov and submitted for consideration of the Consulate General of Finland in Saint Petersburg. Valentin Luntsevich has metioned that "currently the Republic of Karelia is ready to consider counteroffers of the Finnish party concerning improvement and modernization of teaching Finnish language in the Republic of Karelia." In turn, Jouko Skinnari has told that "currently issues of studying of Russian cause increasing interest in Suomi and there is a need to strengthen teamwork in this direction: modern textbooks, new programs, experts in teaching are necessary."

Valentin Luntsevich has also informed representatives of the Group of Friendship with Russia of the Parliament of Finland on the course of implementation of Karelia European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) program. The Republic of Karelia has gained positive experience in implementation of projects of cooperation between Russia and European Union, including TACIS, Interreg, Neighbourliness. Within the framework of these programs it has been implemented more than 60 projects of cross-border cooperation involving the EU's co-financing of €37 million. Now for the first time Russia is represented as an equal partner granting its own means equal to the share of the Finnish party. It proves that there has occued a transition from technical assistance to partner implementation of joint projects in our teamwork. Today contracts are concluded and projects selected within the first call for proposals of the Program – cross-border solutions for spatial, economic and ecological development are being implemented. In total for implementation it has been selected 11 projects amounting to €5,366,000.