Conference on Nordic Cooperation and the Northern Dimension in Hanasaari
Press release 11/2007
16 January, 2007
Finland's Presidency year in the Nordic Council of Ministers will be opened on Wednesday the 17th of January, in the Swedish-Finnish cultural centre of Hanasaari with the theme "Northern Dimension and Nordic Cooperation". Fifteen high-level speakers will attend the event along with approximately 250 other participants.
Finland's Minister for Nordic Cooperation Stefan Wallin will open the seminar. Other speakers include Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Erkki Tuomioja, Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko, Swedish Minister for Nordic Cooperation Cristina Husmark Pehrsson, Iceland's Minister for Nordic Cooperation Jónína Bjartmarz, Norway's State Secretary Liv Monica Bargem Stubholt, Germany's ambassador to Finland Hanns Schumacher, the new Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Halldór Asgrímsson and President of the Nordic Council Dagfinn Høybråten. The conference will conclude with a panel of speakers composed of the chairmen of the committees of senior officials of the regional councils of Northern Europe as well as a representative of the European Comission.
Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers during the year 2007. The Programme for the Finnish Presidency "Nordic Region of Opportunity - Close to You" emphasises the Northern Dimension as well as the ability of the Nordic Countries to meet the challenges of globalisation.
The Presidency strives to bring Nordic cooperation closer to citizens by providing more comprehensive and efficient news and information on the different forms of cooperation.
The website of the Presidency can be found at http://www.norden2007.fi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window). The web service features the Presidency programme, calendar of events, news, articles and columns, basic information on Nordic countries as well as a Nordic trivia. A section for children and young people is also included.
For further information: Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation Harri Mäki-Reinikka, tel. +358 (9) 1605 5557 and Deputy Chief of the Secretariat Kristina Pingoud, tel. +358 (9) 1605 5497.