Foreign Minister Tuomioja to visit Far East

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will visit Japan on January 29-30, Australia on January 31-February 2, East Timor on February 2-3 and Indonesia on February 3-5. He will leave for his Far East tour from Brussels, where he will take part in the EU General Affairs Council on Monday, January 28.

In Japan Tuomioja will discuss with Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and Minister of Justice Mayumi Moriyama. Minister Tuomioja will also open a seminar arranged jointly by the Japanese Institute for International Affairs and Finland´s embassy in Tokyo.

In Canberra, Australia, Tuomioja will meet Defence Minister Robert Hill and President of the Senate Margaret Reid. Minister Tuomioja will also inaugurate the new Finnish embassy building.

In East Timor Tuomioja will learn about the work of the UN temporary administration (UNTAET) hosted by Deputy Secretary General Dennis McNamara. In Indonesia he will meet Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Bambang Yudhoyono.

Additional information: Special Adviser Piritta Asunmaa, tel 1341 5005 and Counsellor Hannu Ripatti, tel 1341 6322.