Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister Paavo Väyrynen met with Ron Kirk, the new United States Trade Representative, in Washington, D.C. on 27 April. The topics of discussion during the meeting were the situation concerning the WTO negotiations and Russia’s membership as well as issues of bilateral trade between the European Union and the Unites States. The meeting between Väyrynen and Kirk was also the first official ministerial meeting with a member of the Obama Administration.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will take part in the Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council to be held in Tromsø, Norway on Wednesday, 29 April. The main theme of the meeting is environmental protection and promotion of sustainable development in Arctic areas.

The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Friday (24 April) Finland’s participation in international crisis management.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet in Brussels on Monday 27 April. The Council will focus on the Middle East peace process and cooperation with the United States. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, will represent Finland at the meeting.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will make a visit to the United States from 24 April to 27 April. Väyrynen will meet with Ron Kirk, the new United States Trade Representative, in Washington, D.C. on Monday, 27 April. Among the issues to be discussed are bilateral trade relations, the international economic crisis and topical WTO issues as well as the promotion of trans-Atlantic relations.

In Finland’s opinion, the UN’s Durban Review Conference in Geneva should focus on the main targets: the prevention, combating and eradication of all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. This was the view presented by Ambassador Hannu Himanen in the statement by Finland to the conference, delivered in Geneva on Wednesday, 22 April.

Gregory Vashadze, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, will visit Finland on 22 April. He will have talks with Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors.

The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy adopted Friday (17 April) Finland’s Action Plan for Afghanistan, which is a follow-up to the report on Afghanistan issued in December 2007.

Russia is returning to the forefront of international politics. In addition, the country has again become Finland’s most important trade partner. What is Finland doing? The Government has today passed a Government Resolution on the first ever Russia Action Plan which, based on the Government Programme, establishes the guidelines for management of the Government’s relations with Russia.

The Government has, on Wednesday, 8 April, adopted a Report on Finland’s EU Policy. The report discusses the impact of EU membership on Finland, sets out basic guidelines and key objectives for Finland’s EU policy, considers ways to develop the exercise of influence in the EU, and analyses the development of the European Union.