Current affairs

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis of Cyprus, who visited Finland on 30–31 January, officially thanked the Finnish Government and thousands of Finns who participated in the peacekeeping operation on Cyprus. At the press conference held together with her Finnish colleague, Minister Kanerva, Kozakou-Marcoullis hoped for assistance from Finland in future as well, until the question of Cyprus has been solved. Kanerva, for his part, said that cooperation between small countries is important.

The Government of Finland discussed in its evening session on 7 November the shooting incident that had taken place in the Jokela School Centre. After the meeting, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen extended the Government’s heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of victims of the incident. During the evening session, the Government observed a short period of silence to commemorate the victims.