The “Lapland Retreat” Foreign Ministers’ meeting is cancelled

Press release 98/2011
17 March 2011

The informal “Lapland Retreat” Foreign Ministers’ meeting, to which Foreign Minister Stubb had invited foreign ministers in Saariselkä on 18–20 March, has been cancelled, owing to the prevailing international situation.

“The situation among others in Libya and Japan is so serious that the foreign ministers are needed in their own capitals. The purpose of the meeting in Saariselkä is for the foreign ministers to discuss international politics freely and without haste amongst themselves. That would not be possible in the current situation,” Stubb stated.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, Foreign Secretary William Hague of the United Kingdom, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of Italy, Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere of Belgium, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden, Foreign Minister Lene Espersen of Denmark, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet of Estonia had previously confirmed their attendance at the meeting.

Additional information: Lauri Tierala, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 40 841 7141, [email protected]