Foreign Minister Tuomioja to Peru and Colombia
Press release 5/2014
10 January 2014
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will visit Peru and Colombia on 13–15 January.
In Lima, the capital of Peru, Tuomioja will have bilateral talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Eda Rivas. The topics of discussion will include the cooperation between Finland and Peru in the field of education, the relations between the EU and Peru, and development cooperation in the Andes region. Minister Tuomioja will also meet President of Peru Ollanta Humala.
Minister Tuomioja will act as introductory speaker at a discussion event concerning sustainable development and the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda, to be held at the Diplomatic Academy of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the visit is to honour the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Peru.
In Colombia, Minister Tuomioja will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs María Ángela Holguín. The topics of discussion will include the progress of Colombia's peace process, the security situation in the region, and the EU’s present situation.
In connection with the visit, a celebration will be held in honour of the Liaison Office of Finland, operating under the Finnish Embassy of Lima, opened in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, in 2013. In addition, the Foreign Minister will also meet Vice President of Colombia Angelino Garzón. In March, 60 years will have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and Colombia.
In both countries, Finland’s application for an observer status in the Pacific Alliance will also be discussed. Both Peru and Colombia are founding members of the organisation. Other topics on the agenda will include the trade agreement between the EU and its Member States and Colombia and Peru, the provisional application of which began last year. Furthermore, the foreign ministers will discuss international issues, such as the situations of Syria and the Middle East, and the integration of Latin America.
In both countries, Foreign Minister Tuomioja will meet representatives of civic organisations and human rights advocates.
Additional information: Katja Kalamäki, Diplomatic Adviser to the Foreign Minister, tel. +358 40 590 7973; and Roy Eriksson, Head of Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, tel. +358 40 753 6865