Foreign Minister Tuomioja and Development Minister Hautala heard NGOs on Finland’s goals for the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly
Press release 232/2011
8 September 2011
Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala met representatives of NGOs in a hearing event concerning the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, held on 7 September. The purpose of the annually organised event is to hear the opinions of the civil society on Finland’s and EU’s goals for the UN General Assembly. A wide range of civil society representatives attended the meeting.
In his opening address, Minister Tuomioja emphasised the strong UN focus included in the new Government Programme. As regards the new session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister underscored the chairmanship of the General Assembly First Committee dealing with disarmament and arms control issues, promotion of human rights and democracy, and advancing the sustainable development goals in the UN. He highlighted the meaning of the peace mediation resolution, prepared on the initiative of Finland and Turkey, the approval of which at the General Assembly in June 2011 was a major achievement. As concerns topical political questions, Minister Tuomioja mentioned the status of Palestine in the UN and the happenings of the Arab Spring.
Foreign Minister Tuomioja emphasised that Finland's candidature for Security Council membership for the term 2013-14 is the spearhead project of the Finnish UN policy. Minister Tuomioja underscored that the UN Security Council is the only UN organ able to make decisions that are legally binding on the member states. This binding force is what gives, for example, the Resolution 1325 Women, Peace and Security its strength.
Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala pointed out that Finland should increasingly strive to highlight its strong areas of expertise, such as equality affairs. Minister Hautala underscored the challenges of sustainable development and the need to develop all its dimensions in a well-balanced manner. She also emphasised the meaning of youth issues and the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Minister Hautala told that, during the week of the General Assembly, she will attend, for example, a conference on non-communicable diseases and a high-level meeting on desertification.
The topics that stirred discussion included, in particular, the status of Palestine, the situation of the UN Millennium Development Goals, and the meaning of youth issues.
Further information: Katja Pehrman, Diplomatic Adviser to Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, tel. +358 40 181 9257, Milma Kettunen, Press Attaché for the Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala, tel. +358 40 552 9869, and Katri Viinikka, Head of Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, tel. +358 40 753 2730