Foreign Ministry's press releases

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan visits Finland

Foreign Minister of Norway Børge Brende will visit Finland on Thursday 13–14 May and meet Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The Foreign Ministers will discuss, for example, topical foreign policy issues such as Russia and Ukraine, Syria, Middle East, Sudan, the Central African Republic, regional cooperation, and mediation.

Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Matti Anttonen will chair a Team Finland visit to Warsaw, Poland, on 12–13 May 2014. The business delegation, assembled by Finpro and the Association of Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries (AFDA), will consist of representatives from 21 companies.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels on 12 May. Finland’s representative in the meeting will be Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

Development cooperation is the most effective when it gives people themselves the chance to improve their well-being and demand their rights, states the development policy report approved by the Government on 8 May.

On Wednesday 7 May 2014, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation in Ukraine.

Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) in Brussels on Thursday 8 May. The main topics of the meeting will include the free trade agreement between the EU and Canada, the free trade talks with Japan, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) work programme, and liberalisation of trade in so-called ’green goods’.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja will attend the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Vienna on 5–6 May. The meeting will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the state of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe on the basis of a report published by the Council of Europe.

Minister Haavisto will travel to South Sudan on 4−5 May. In Juba, capital of the country, the Minister will meet representatives of the South Sudanese administration, national and international actors – including UN and EU representatives – and aid donors. The purpose of the visit is to send a strong message to the parties fighting in South Sudan that violence and human rights violations must stop immediately.

Under-Secretary of State Laajava reports on preparations for Middle East Conference to be held in Helsinki