Prime Minister of East Timor to visit Finland

Press release 173/2005
23 May, 2005


Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri of East Timor, which just recently celebrated the third anniversary of its independence, will visit Finland on 27-29 May as part of his more extensive tour in Europe. This is the first visit to Finland for the Prime Minister.

During his visit Prime Minister Alkatiri will meet President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The topics of discussion will include, among other things, the development of East Timor after becoming an independent nation as well as economic and political prospects of the country.

The discussions will also handle cooperation between Finland and East Timor, in which development aid has played an important part. In the years 2003-2005 Finland’s annual contribution has been approximately 1.5 million euros. East Timor does not belong among the long-term partner countries for Finnish development aid, but, for the time being, Finland plans to continue its aid program. The economic and cultural relations between East Timor and Finland have been relatively limited, and Finland does not have a diplomatic mission in Dili, capital of East Timor. Finnish Ambassador to Jakarta is also accredited as Ambassador to East Timor.

Additional information: Deputy Director General Matti Pullinen, Department for the Americas and Asia, tel. +358 9 160 55694 and Ambassador Markku Niinioja, Finland’s Embassy in Jakarta, tel. +358 40 731 0081