Finland in favour of further Nordic foreign and security policy cooperation

Government Communications Unit
Press release 170/2009
29.5.2009

On Friday 29 May, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed an independent report by Thorvald Stoltenberg, former Norwegian Foreign Minister, on the strengthening of foreign and security policy cooperation between the Nordic countries. The report was released in February this year, and the proposals outlined in it will be discussed at the Nordic Foreign Ministers’ meeting taking place on 9 June.

Finland highlights the importance of Nordic cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy, and wishes to further deepen it. The increasing significance of northern and arctic regions is reflected in the potential for Nordic cooperation, and it also generates interest in regional collaboration.

Stoltenberg’s proposals cover a wide range of challenges common to all Nordic countries. Cooperation could be strengthened in areas such crisis management, air surveillance, the use of satellite communication services, data security, foreign affairs administration, and in defence cooperation on the basis of existing arrangements. One objective of the Reykjavik meeting is to agree on research arrangements for projects in which Nordic cooperation has clear added value. Nordic mutual solidarity will also be addressed.

At their meeting on Friday, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy also discussed the forthcoming visit to Finland of Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Russia.

Further information: Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5032 and Helena Partanen, Defence Counsellor, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8135