Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has granted EUR 14 million for victims of conflicts and natural catastrophes from the appropriations earmarked for humanitarian assistance for the last months of the year. The aid will be channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement and Finnish NGOs.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will attend the Session of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, which will be held in Murmansk, Russia on 14–15 October.

On Friday, 9 October, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s participation in international crisis management.

Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov will visit Finland on Tuesday, 13 October, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. Foreign Minister Martynov will also meet President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen, and Chairman of the Finnish Parliament's Grand Committee Erkki Tuomioja.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided to grant EUR 300,000 of humanitarian assistance through the Finnish Red Cross due to the earthquake in Sumatra.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will visit Arkhangelsk, Russia, on 6–8 October. The business delegation accompanying the Minister will consist of representatives from 15 major Finnish companies.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has selected Markus Ojakoski (aged 33) to be his new Senior Adviser. Currently Administrative Director at Teuva municipality, Markus Ojakoski will take up the position of Senior Adviser to the Minister on 8 October.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will visit Rovaniemi on Tuesday, 29 September. He will speak about the challenges of the Arctic region and the objectives of Finland’s Arctic policy at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Arctic Centre.

Alongside illegal trade in arms and drugs, human trafficking is among the most profitable types of crime and one aspect of organised crime. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that each year, two million people fall prey to human trafficking as victims for the labour market, the sex trade and trade in human organs.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has granted EUR 400,000 of emergency assistance through the Finnish Red Cross for relief work in the flood-affected areas of West Africa.