Foreign Ministry's press releases

“It is gratifying to see that Peru implements principles of sustainable development. Sustainable economic growth reduces poverty. Finnish companies have a lot of know-how and expertise to offer,” Minister Väyrynen outlined when meeting Peruvian Minister of Trade and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros in Lima.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will make an export promotion trip to Peru, Argentina and Uruguay on 6-11 March. The purpose of the visit is to increase and diversify the trade and economic relations between Finland and the three countries in question.

Finland and the Palestinian National Authority have signed an agreement concerning Finnish support for an education sector programme. The purpose is to support arrangement of education and enhancement of the quality of teaching in the Palestinian Territories. The agreement will enter into force in the beginning of March.

On 3 March, the Government decided on the distribution of neighbouring area cooperation for the year 2011, in accordance with the proposal of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen. Neighbouring area cooperation carried out in Northwest Russia in 2011 will focus especially on the promotion of economic cooperation. Neighbouring area cooperation is an important component of Finland’s foreign and security policy and implementation of the Government’s Russia Action Plan.

On Thursday 3 March, the Government decided to propose to the President of the Republic six new appointments. The President of the Republic will appoint the Ambassadors in the presidential session on Friday 4 March.

Owing to the crisis in Libya and the stream of refugees coming to Tunisia, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided to grant 1,200,000 euros from the Foreign Ministry’s humanitarian aid funds for the relief work done by the Finnish Red Cross in Tunisia. The decision now made by the minister follows on the previous decision to grant 150,000 euros.

Finland, as a partner country of the Partnership for Peace, will participate in the NATO Crisis Management Exercise 2011 (CMX11) on 23–30 March. 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.

“Libya has responsibility to protect all people within its region – crimes against humanity must be investigated and prosecuted,” Foreign Minister Stubb underscored at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Stubb pointed out that the UN Security Council should define where the line goes for the international community to take the responsibility to protect people.

Lauri Tierala to serve as Foreign Minister Stubb’s press attaché

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided to grant 150,000 euros to the Finnish Red Cross for humanitarian relief efforts owing to the crisis in Libya. The International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, is providing aid to victims of the crisis by sending assessment delegates, surgical groups and medical supplies to the region.