A three-minute silence today in commemoration of the victims of the Asian natural disaster

Government Information Unit

Press release 3/2005
3 January 2005




On 5 January, the EU Member States will observe a three-minute silence to commemorate the victims of the Asian natural disaster. The three-minute silence will begin at 12.00 Finnish time. In Finland, flags were flown at half-mast on the New Year's Day and, therefore, the gesture will not be repeated in conjunction with the three-minute silence on Wednesday as recommended by the EU. The Government hopes that citizens will observe the silence.

A national ecumenial service to commemorate the victims of the Asian catastrophe will be held at Turku Cathedral at Epiphany. The opening service of the ‘Church in Finland for 850 years' event will be held together with the memorial service. The memorial service will be attended by the President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, Speaker of Parliament, Paavo Lipponen, and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and other Members of the Government.

Next Sunday, services held in different congregations throughout Finland will commemorate the victims of the Asian disaster.


Further information: State Secretary Risto Volanen, Prime Minister's Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2006 and Asko Mattila, Head of Government Information, tel. +358 9 1602 2012