New Zealand’s Foreign Minister to visit Finland

Press release 372/2006
22 September, 2006

Winston Peters, Foreign Minister of New Zealand, will visit Finland on 24–27 September. Foreign Minister Peters will take part in the EU–New Zealand Meeting of Foreign Ministers. Topics on the meeting agenda are, among others, cooperation between the European Union and New Zealand, and issues concerning the Asia-Pacific region. The EU–New Zealand Meeting of Foreign Ministers will take place in the established Troika composition, which includes the EU Presidency, the Secretariat of the Council of the EU and the European Commission.

After the EU meeting, Foreign Minister Peters will have official bilateral talks with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The topics to be discussed by the two foreign ministers include bilateral relations between Finland and New Zealand, and topical international issues.

In addition, Foreign Minister Peters will meet with President Tarja Halonen and MP Liisa Jaakonsaari, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament. The foreign minister will also pay a visit to Lapland, where he will become acquainted with activities of the Saami Parliament. 

Additional information: First Secretary Jari Sinkari, Unit for Asia and Oceania, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6322