HELSINKI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Sunday had talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Finnish media reported.
Finland and representatives of eight other countries participating in the French defense cooperation, known as the intervention initiative, were invited to attend the French national day parade. Niinisto and Macron later talked privately.
Niinisto told Finnish media they had discussed the admission of new countries into the initiative group and relations with Russia.
Niinisto said that, as he will be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future, he was pleased to hear Macron's views.
Niinisto reminded that Macron has suggested European security architecture and one of its aspects would be to "clarify the relationship with Russia".
Niinisto said that "clarifying" does not mean that the EU countries would be easing their attitude towards the actions of Russia related to Ukraine. He endorsed the "two-track policy" that allows both reaction and another track for exchange of views.
Commentators have said the French defense initiative is not part of the EU defense cooperation and that situation has aroused also questions.
Niinisto told Finnish media he and Macron had also discussed "how many different defense initiatives, under different leadership, fit into Europe.
"I do not see a major problem in it. At least not now," Niinisto said, quoted by Finnish news agency STT.
STT noted that the date of Niinisto's meeting with Putin has not been published yet.
