Wednesday's meeting between Soini and Lavrov was their second within two weeks. The Finnish and Russian foreign ministers last met for discussions in New York where both were attending the UN General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Soini described their latest talks as "very good and substantial", saying that despite the difficult international situation the two countries have a good working relationship.
Soini also pointed out the continuing importance of the Russian market to many Finnish companies. For his part, Lavrov said that outside factors should not be allowed to affect bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic sphere. He noted, though that it has been hit not only by a general economic downswing, but also by EU sanctions and the atmosphere in Russian-EU relations.
International issues discussed included the Syrian conflict, the fight against terrorism, and according to Lavrov, their talks also touched upon the importance of the Minsk agreement and achieving progress in Ukraine.
Barents Euro-Arctic Council
The chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council transferred from Finland to Russia at Wednesday's gathering in Oulu.
The council is an organization aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Arctic Barents Sea region. Its members are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the European Commission.
