Foreign Minister Tuomioja to the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Iqaluit

Press release 110/2015
22 April 2015

Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja will participate in the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Iqaluit, in the Canadian North, on 24 April. The meeting will approve action plans concerning the prevention of and response to Arctic marine oil pollution and the reduction of black carbon and methane emissions.

The meeting will publish working groups' reports relating to environmental monitoring, identification of pollution risks, anticipation of environmental accidents, sustainable development, preservation of natural diversity, and specific issues concerning the Arctic region. The reports include recommendations, on the basis of which the Foreign Ministers will decide about further measures.           

During the meeting, Tuomioja will hold bilateral discussions with the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson.

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental cooperation forum between the Governments of the Nordic countries, Russia, Canada and the United States of America. Representatives of the indigenous peoples also take part in the Arctic Council's work. The Council Chairmanship is two years at a time. At the ninth Ministerial Meeting in Iqaluit, Canada will hand over the Chairmanship to the United States.

Additional information: Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Katja Kalamäki, tel. +358 40 590 7973 and Ambassador for Arctic Affairs Aleksi Härkönen, tel.      +358 50 462 4471