Finland to establish a foreign mission in Astana

Press release 102/2009
3 April, 2009

In accordance with a decree given by the President of the Republic today, 3 April, a foreign mission will be established in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on 1 September.

The intention is that two staff members posted from Finland will launch operations of the foreign mission in Astana. According to preliminary plans, four local staff members will be hired.

Finland and Norway have initially agreed on renting an office building, to be used jointly for the offices of both countries.

The idea is that the ambassador to be sent to Astana will also be accredited to Kyrgyzstan and possibly to Tajikistan as well. The departure point for the roving ambassador’s field of activities is that the roving ambassador will probably continue to take care of affairs at least in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Additional information: Director General Nina Vaskunlahti, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 9 1605 5038, mobile tel. +358 40 481 9823, and Tuula Yrjölä, Head of the Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 9 1605 6095, mobile tel. +358 40 740 9213