Foreign Ministry's press releases

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb have conveyed their condolences to the government leaders of Russia following the bombings that took place in the Metro system of Moscow on 29 March. In their telegrams, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed their deep sympathy to the bereaved and to everyone affected by the bombings.

On Wednesday 24 March, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in the crisis management operation in Kosovo and the two forthcoming summits: the Global Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington in April and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May.

Elisabeth Rehn was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims in New York on 23 March. The Trust Fund for Victims objective is to assist victims of crime and their families, it focuses, in particular, on the victims of sexual violence and former child soldiers, among others. Finland is one of the largest donor countries of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry of India Anand Sharma will visit Finland on 25–26 March on invitation of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen. The Ministers will discuss topical issues in international economy and enhancing of the Finnish-Indian trade relations.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will attend the meeting between the World Bank Nordic and Baltic Countries group and Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank, in Copenhagen on 24 March.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb has a meeting today, Monday, 22 March, with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman of Israel. The Foreign Ministers are meeting at Minister Lieberman’s initiative, in conjunction with the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council being held in Brussels.

In the coming years, Finland will provide at least 10 million euros for reconstruction in Haiti, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen revealed following the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs on Friday, 19 March. Finland will pledge its assistance at the Haitian reconstruction conference organised by the UN in New York on 31 March. The European Union is currently arranging a sizeable reconstruction package to assist in Haiti’s reconstruction.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels on 22 March. The main topics of the meeting are the Middle East Peace Process and preparations for the EU External Action Service. Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will represent Finland at the meeting.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen encourages Finnish companies to introduce their products and services on Nigerian markets. “Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and is rich in natural resources. We can offer world-class high technology suitable for demanding conditions and solutions, among others, for energy economy, the mining industry, waste management and primary health care,” the minister stated.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will make a visit to Nigeria on 14–17 March. The places he will visit are Abuja, the capital, and Lagos, the economic centre. The minister will be accompanied by a business delegation of more than 20 representatives of Finnish know-how on a broad scale.