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Finnish parliament puts cooperation with Russia above political interests — Rosatom head

Finnish deputies voted for renewing a license for the construction of the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant in the country’s north

MURMANSK, December 5 /TASS/. The Finnish parliament has put cooperation with Russia in the construction of the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant above up-to-the-moment political interests, Sergey Kiriyenko, the head of the Rosatom State Corporation for Nuclear Energy, told journalists on Friday.

Finnish deputies voted for renewing a license for the construction of the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant in the country’s north by 115 votes vs. 74 at a plenary meeting on Friday.

Rosatom Overseas, a sister company of the Rosatom State Corporation for Atomic Energy, and Finnish Fennovoima are planning to commission the NPP in 2024.

Kiriyenko said the Finnish parliament acted in the interests of Finland when it chose Russia as a partner for the construction.

“It is a well-considered decision, which shows that the Finnish deputies are acting in the interests of their country. Their decision was absolutely independent,” Kiriyenko stressed. “There had been attempts to influence the Finnish parliament’s decision but the deputies made a decision proceeding from the fact that it is a mutually beneficial project. It proves that relations in the nuclear sphere have a long-term perspective,” the Rosatom chief said.

“Relations in the nuclear sphere have a long-term perspective while projects that are launched to deadline will last longer than a human life and much longer than any instantaneous political interests or election cycles,” Kiriyenko stressed.