Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Noah Wekesa of Kenya will visit Finland on 1–5 June as the guest of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen. The purpose of Minister Wekesa’s visit is to learn about the Finnish forestry sector and to discuss Finland’s support for development of Kenya’s forestry sector. During the visit Minister Wekesa and his delegation will learn about the Finnish forest administration, forestry research, private forestry and the forest industry.

Filippo Grandi, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), visits Finland on 2-3 June. During his visit Grandi meets Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen for discussions on the Finnish support to UNRWA and the Palestinian territories.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb wants to reform Finnish Foreign Service into a modern organisation that is oriented towards 2020's and proactively responds to changes in the international operating environment. At a seminar on Finland, the EU Foreign Service and change of diplomacy, organised by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Minister Stubb presented three principles for updating the Foreign Service: selectivity, efficiency and openness.

Bilateral consultations between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the Republic of Finland took place on 19-21 May in Lusaka.

The Assembly of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) will be held on 25-26 May in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Before the assembly, over 30 GEF contributor countries pledged to add 4.25 million U.S. dollars to the fund over 2010-2014. Finland increased its share more than any other donor; by 80 percent from the previous replenishment. Finland's total contribution to the 5th replenishment will be 57.3 million euros.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem of Vietnam will meet in Helsinki on Friday, 21 May. The ministers will discuss topical international issues.

Zambian Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, H.E. Catherine Namugala will visit Finland on 17-20 May on the invitation of Minister of the Environment Paula Lehtomäki.

The European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries will convene for the VI EU–LAC Summit, to be held in Madrid on 17–18 May. President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will represent Finland at the Summit.

Under-Secretary of State Pekka Huhtaniemi together with twelve Finnish business representatives will visit Tunisia on 18–19 May.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb will attend the Nordic–African Foreign Ministers Meeting to take place in Dakar, Senegal on 12–13 May.