Medvedev in Finland on gas talks

HELSINKI, Finland, April 20 (UPI) -- The Nord Stream natural gas pipeline to Europe is expected to top the agenda of a meeting Monday between Russian and Finnish officials.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Finland on Monday on the start of a two-day visit to discuss energy relations, including the Nord Stream project, RIA Novosti reports.

Nord Stream would travel along a dual route though the Baltic Sea to Germany. Littoral states have expressed repeated concerns over the environmental impact of the pipeline construction, which is complicated by World War II munitions strewn along the floor of the Baltic Sea.

Russia meets 100 percent of Finnish energy needs, but Finland would have to give its consent to Nord Stream for the project to move forward.

"When discussing issues concerning the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, running under the Baltic Sea across the Finnish economic zone, the accent will focus on the observance of the strictest environmental requirements during the project's implementation," said Sergei Prikhodko, an aide to Medvedev.

Trade between Russia and Finland eclipsed $22 billion in 2008, but it suffered modest setbacks in recent months because of the global economic recession.