Council of the Baltic Sea States Ministerial Meeting in Pori
Finland's second presidency in the Council of the Baltic Sea States is concluded with the 12th CBSS Ministerial Meeting in Pori, Finland, June 10-11, 2003. Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, hosts the meeting, which will be attended by Mr. Igor S. Ivanov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Mr. Per Stig Møller, Ms. Kristiina Ojuland, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Ms. Sandra Kalniete, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Mr. Antanas Valionis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Mr. Halldór Ásgrimsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Mr. Hans Martin Bury, Minister for European Affairs of Germany, and the Secretaries of State of Sweden and Norway. In addition, the meeting is attended by representatives of Greece, the acting presidency of the European Union, and representatives of the European Commission, which is a member of CBSS.
The Ministerial meeting in Pori focuses on discussing the development of the Baltic Sea region after the enlargement of the European Union in May 2004, when all the Baltic Sea states except Russia will be members in the EU. Finland emphasizes the importance of enhancing the security of sea transports with regard to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment. Other issues to be discussed are strengthening of the civil society in the Baltic Sea region and combating trafficking in human beings.
The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was established in 1992 to advance security, stability and welfare in the Baltic Sea region. It is an important and useful political forum for a dialogue between Russia and other Baltic Sea states.
Current issues for the CBSS are crime prevention, combating drugs and communicable diseases and stopping illegal immigration. The Finnish CBSS Presidency has emphasized as key priorities issues concerning cross-border co-operation, the labour market and non-governmental organizations.
For further information, please contact:
Chairman of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials, Ambassador Tauno Pesola, tel. +358-(0)9-1605 5432.
Counsellor Marja-Liisa Kiljunen, tel. 1605 6528.