The importance of being present in Africa and the Middle East is increasingly important for Finland. A closer review of developments in these areas reveals that much good progress is being made. In addition to development cooperation, commercial activities are pursued there, but we also need to strengthen the political relations,” says Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, who started as Director General of the Department for Africa and the Middle East in the autumn 2017.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja urges the parties to continue the peace negotiations and commit themselves to a negotiated two-state solution, which is the only way to achieve a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

EU:n jäsenvaltiot ovat päättäneet julkaista yhteiset viestit EU:n kansalaisille ja yrityksille siirtokunnissa harjoitettavaa taloudellista toimintaa ja rahoitustoimintaa koskevan tietoisuuden lisäämiseksi.

A thriving democracy or an old oligarchy with new leaders? No one can know what will be the final outcome of the popular uprisings in the Arab countries. This was the opinion shared by the participants in the open discussion organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at the House of the Estates on Monday, 4 April. In the event, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Finnish ambassadors expressed their views of the happenings in the Arab World.

The knowledge and skills of Finnish students in science, mathematics and reading are of the highest order. In science and mathematics they are rated best in the OECD countries and in reading the second best. The main focus in PISA 2006 was science literacy.

On Wednesday, 21 November, Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva met in Ramallah Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malk and Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad. The Palestinian Authority hoped for a significant EU contribution by the side of the United States, particularly at the stage when the implementation of the results of the Annapolis meeting begins. On Thursday, Kanerva will meet his Israeli colleague Tzipi Livni.