Finland Communist leader raps Soviet meddling

May 17, 1982

Finland's Communist Party Chairman Aarne Saarinen accused the Soviet Union of meddling in the party's internal affairs. Mr. Saarinen told a party congress the Soviet Politburo was wrong in earlier alleging that the Finnish party was harboring anti-Soviet and Eurocommunist elements. He said the statement had merely given a weapon to a Stalinist minority in the party, he said.

Mr. Saarinen said the Finnish party was not, and never would be anti-Soviet. He said it would not criticize the Soviets ''as long as both parties adhere earnestly . . . to the principles of independence and non-interference in the internal affairs of the other party."