Foreign Minister Tuomioja and Development Minister Hautala in Ethiopia
Press Release 7 /2013
1 April 2013
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala are visiting the region of the Horn of Africa. Pekka Haavisto, the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative, is also a participant on the trip.
The difficult political and security situation in the strategically important Horn of Africa and the need for assistance require an active approach from the international community. The purpose of the visit by the ministers is to get first-hand information to support Finland’s input and development cooperation to the region. In accordance with the Government Programme and the Development Policy Programme, Finland should pay attention to supporting fragile states.
Ethiopia has long been one of Finland’s development cooperation partner countries. The ministers met with Prime Minister HailemariamDesalegn and Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on 1 April. The views of Ethiopia, which current chairs the African Union, were heard and bilateral relations and cooperation were discussed during the meeting. The Ministers also met with representatives of civil society in Ethiopia.
Additional information: Director of Communications Keijo Norvanto, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 351, Susanna Parkkonen, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 50 377 5601, and Milma Kettunen, Press Attaché to the Minister for International Development, mobile tel. +358 40 522 9869