Halonen Surprised by Claims of Returning Karelia

President Tarja Halonen said a recent claim that Russia had considered selling Karelia back to Finland in the early 1990s was news to her.

At a press conference on Wednesday with the new Latvian president Valdis Zatlers, Halonen said she had discussions with former presidents Mauno Koivisto and Martti Ahtisaari before assuming the presidency, but that the matter had never been mentioned. She added that the issue, reported last week in the newspaper Kainuun Sanomat, was quite interesting.

Halonen said that the subject of returning Karelia to Finland was much more popular at the start of her presidency seven years ago. Still, she said there were never any serious talks about regaining the region.