Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja to visit Washington

Press release 120/2004
19 May 2004


Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja will visit Washington from 25 to 26 May. Tuomioja meets United States Secretary of State Colin Powell on 26 May. Powell and Tuomioja will discuss among others the EU's relations with the United States, the situation in Iraq and the Middle East as well as other topical international questions. Bilateral issues between Finland and the United States will be on the agenda as well. In addition, Tuomioja will inform Powell on the progress of the EU Constitution-making process, EU-Russia relations and the development in the Baltic Sea area.

Foreign Minister Tuomioja will meet representatives of the World Bank and research institutes for international affairs, too. Their conversations will cover transatlantic relations and questions related to management of globalisation.

From Washington Minister Tuomioja will continue his journey to Guadalajara in Mexico where he, together with president Tarja Halonen, will participate in the EU-Latin America Summit.

Additional information: For the visit to Washington: Head of the Unit for North America at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Marja Rislakki, tel.160 55624, 040 838 2939 (mobile) and Counsellor Leena Liukkonen, tel. 160 55527, 040 569 6389 (mobile). For the EU-Latin America-Caribbean Summit: Head of Unit Anne Lammila, tel 160 56360, 040 577 1064 (mobile).