Foreign Ministry's press releases

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs participates in the annual World Village Festival on 25–26 May with their own stand, called the Kankkula well. The Finnish expression, something “goes into the Kankkula well”, means that something goes down the drain, is wasted. At the Festival, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will also speak in the panel discussions held during the event.

On 21 May, the University of Palestine in Gaza granted Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja the Honorary Doctor's degree (Doctor Honoris Causa) within the field of international humanitarian justice. Foreign Minister Tuomioja visited Gaza to receive his Honorary Doctor’s degree as part of his more extensive visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. He gave a speech at the reception ceremony.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will make a visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories on 19-22 May.

Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will travel to Zambia and Tanzania from 20 to 25 May. On this first joint trade and development trip, they will be accompanied by a delegation consisting of representatives from businesses and civil society organisations, which has been compiled by Finpro.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will participate in the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting on 15 May in Kiruna, Northern Sweden. In the meeting, the ministers will sign the Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Agreement.

The Finns abducted in Sanaa, Yemen on 21 December 2012, Leila and Atte Kaleva, have been freed. The Finnish man and woman are safe and will return to their loved ones as soon as possible. The Austrian abducted at the same time, Dominik Neubauer, is also free. This positive outcome is the result of close cooperation between Finland and Austria.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák will visit Finland on 13 May at the invitation of Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

Finland and Denmark aim to negotiate an agreement with the Palestinians by which the status of the Palestinian representative offices in Helsinki and Copenhagen would be upgraded to that of an embassy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivan Mrkic will visit Finland on 10 May and meet Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The topics of discussion between the ministers include the regional questions of Western Balkans, the EU integration of Serbia, mediation, and the bilateral relations between Finland and Serbia.

Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will participate in the Somalia Conference hosted by the UK in London on 7 May. The participants will include key leaders of the Horn of Africa area, donor countries, and aid organisations.