if Russia's leaders are going the extra mile to eat greasy hamburger with the United States’ leader, then, the Russia’s leadership must make extra effort to make good friendly relationship with its next door neighbour, Finland. Russians and Finns will mingle and its important to find a reasonable way to deal with this natural human reality.

I wonder how normal it is considered in Finland when a child calls for help of an official institution if the mom does not give her chocolate raisins. Don’t parents sometimes say NO to their children?

Interesting news, very interesting. Considering that Finnish officials are saying in the news that they have never received any proposal or draft of that kind from Russia. Maybe mr Astakhov's staff have forgotten to send it in the first place?

@ to Arc Light Why not assume the Finnish officials have forgotten to open the letter?

Fremder: If you read the story Astahov claims that he received reply from Finnish Foreign Ministry about this... So if Finns forgot to open his letter in the first place, Astahov is really delusional from heat if he thinks he got a reply. Don't they have air conditioning in the FSB or what ever office he's working in? One might ask whether to trust a KGB or non-KGB educated person. For me selection is pretty easy. And also yes some parents don't teach kids to understand the meaning of no and this leads them or/and their parents to trouble sooner or later, which is really sad.

@ Arc Light You seem to feel better thinking the Finnish authorities are not lying, whatever reasons you have for that. For me their telling the truth is far from being obvious. (Sorry to call a spade a spade and use the word LIE instead of a tactful euphemism.) What does the KGB, let it rest in peace, have to do with all this? Was you mention it simply the way to admit that you are biased towards Russia? If yes, the further discussion is pointless.

Soory, my last comment was for Marco.

Fremder: I don't see this as a feeling issue, but one of logic: 1. In countries with free and non governmentally controlled media the liers eventually will get caught, which makes it more trustworthy for me to trust Finnish officials. 2. Every single Russian person I know don't trust their leaders. And they naturally must know their leaders better than I, so I should take that in account. 3. Astahov was educated by KGB. KGB (or any other intelligency service) is not firstly known from their trustworthiness. So it's rather simple for me to to pick which I should trust. Are you biased and only trust Russian official because they're Russian? Or what is the reason you should consider Astahov more trustworthy here (or anywhere)?

Why can't Russia sign to the Hague International accord to protect children's rights, like Finland has? Finland would never sign a treaty with Russia allowing Russian parents to physically abuse their children in Finland... as is the law in Russia permits.