Foreign Ministry's press releases

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has made two initiatives that would help implement the goals of Finland’s Development Policy Programme through wide international cooperation. These initiatives aim at increasingly effective efforts to eradicate poverty by means of socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development.

The EU foreign ministers gave their strong support for the achievement of a lasting ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel when they met in Brussels on Monday, 26 January. According to Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, it is now most important to get humanitarian aid through as quickly as possible, support the ceasefire, reopen the Gaza border crossings and to prevent the smuggling of arms and ammunition to Gaza.

By the decision of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, Finland has granted a total of 4 million euros to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA. The sum consists of 3.5 million euros granted as general assistance and a donation of 500,000 euros on account of Special Funding Appeal for Gaza.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will receive the Finnish Foreign Policy Youth Forum’s evaluation of Finland’s foreign and security policy at its publication event, to take place at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, 27 January from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will attend the Informal Meeting of EU Trade Ministers in Brussels on Sunday, 25 January. An informal meeting of trade ministers is held once during each EU Presidency term.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet in Brussels on Monday 26, January. The main theme of the meeting will be the Middle East peace process. Other themes will include energy security and relations between the EU and Russia and the EU and Ukraine. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, will represent Finland at the meeting.

Valery Serdyukov, the Governor of Leningrad Region, will visit Finland on 23 January at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen.

By the decision made today, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has granted one million euros to the Finnish Red Cross for deploying a field hospital to Peshawar, Pakistan.

Today 21 January, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will travel to Brussels, where he and his colleagues from other EU countries will meet Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni over dinner. In the meeting, they will discuss the situation in Gaza, ways to secure a lasting ceasefire, and delivery of humanitarian assistance.

“Finland’s membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 40 years ago was a logical step in the strengthening of trade and economic relations between our country and the market economy countries,” Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen said when opening the seminar celebrating the 40th anniversary of Finland’s accession to OECD on Tuesday 20 January.