Russia appreciates Finnish policy of not joining military alliances: Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here on Tuesday that Russia appreciates the Finnish policy of not belonging to military alliances and that the Finnish policy line has strengthened the security in the whole area.

Lavrov is on a one-day visit in Finland.

Talking to media at a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto, Lavrov noted that at the end of this year Finland and Russia will observe the centenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Haavisto said that "dialogue and transparency of measures are important" in regional security. He underlined the importance of continued peaceful cooperation in the Arctic areas.

Haavisto also noted it was important that Russia had returned to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Asked at the press conference about the possible increased refugee flow from the Middle East, Lavrov said Russia understands what a serious problem illegal immigration is to the European Union, adding that Russia will not cease its fight against terrorism.

Haavisto said it is important that the European Union reacts jointly to the situation. He underlined the importance of reaching a ceasefire, adding that the situation in Syria's Idlib now is totally inhuman.

Lavrov also said he briefed Haavisto about the dialogue Russia is carrying on with NATO and about the initiatives Russia had submitted over a year ago. "But we did not get a response to those suggestions," Lavrov said, adding that "our suggestions are still on the table of NATO and we hope common sense would win."

The Russian foreign minister also met with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.

The president said he had talked with Lavrov about the stability in the Baltic area, arms control and other international issues. Niinistö said on social media that he had a serious discussion with Lavrov about "the Syrian and Idlib situation" as well as the humanitarian suffering it causes.

Also on Tuesday, the Russian military rejected statements that Russia and Syria are responsible for a "humanitarian crisis" and "millions" of refugees from the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

"These statements are biased and completely untrue," said Oleg Zhuravlyov, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria.