According to the survey, Finns are the most critical of Russia among West Europeans.
However, this critical attitude does not prevent Finland from preserving friendly relations with Russia, Halonen pointed out.
"We, Finns, are always critical of everything, but this does not prevent us from being friends," she said, when speaking at a joint press conference with President of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos.
Finns are also the most critical of the USA, she added.
"We do not talk much, we are critical, but if we say 'yes', it means 'yes' and not 'maybe'," she explained the Finnish character.
The Finnish mass media also emphasize that there were no Finns among the underwriters of the letter written by public figures and politicians of some countries and sent to heads of state and government of NATO and EU member states. The letter expressed concern about the fate of democracy in Russia and security of its neighbors due to increased anti-terrorist measures in Russia and proposed to reconsider strategy towards the country.
