Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will be visiting Ethiopia and Kenya on October 23–30. This is the Minister’s first visit to these long-standing partners of Finnish development cooperation. In both countries the agenda includes discussions on burning current issues, such as the situation in the Horn of Africa, food security and human rights and democracy issues in the region.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja visits Norway

Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will visit Moscow on Tuesday and Wednesday 25-26 October.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will visit Croatia on 19 October and Serbia on 20 October.

Foreign Minister Tuomioja regards that the climate of opinion relating to international affairs has become harsher in Finland and in Europe. Analytical debate is needed about the benefits of European integration and international cooperation. “The effects of security threats have become more and more wide-ranging, for which reason it is impossible to isolate oneself from them. Only effective cooperation will bring lasting security,” Tuomioja pointed out at the Atlantic Council of Finland.

Finland is set to host a conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in 2012. Under-Secretary of State Mr. Jaakko Laajava has been appointed as facilitator for the Conference. The UN Secretary-General and the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States informed the UN General Assembly of the appointment in New York on the 14th of October 2011 based on consultations held with countries in the region.

The EU Commission today, 12 October, published its annual review of the Enlargement Strategy of the European Union. Finland continues its strong support for EU enlargement. The process remains significant for expanding the area of stability and prosperity in Europe.

Finland, as a partner country of the Partnership for Peace, will participate in the NATO Crisis Management Exercise 2011 (CMX11) on 19-26 October. CMX is NATO’s annual exercise, and the NATO partner countries are now invited to participate for the fourth time. Finland took part in the previous crisis management exercises open to partner countries, which were held in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will make an export promotion and internalisation trip to Shanghai, China, on 18–20 October.

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, President of the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly, will visit Finland on 11–13 October at the invitation of President of the Republic Tarja Halonen.