Foreign Ministry's press releases

The European Union foreign ministers are ready for closer relations with Belarus. At the same time, the ban on visas to Belarusian leaders and representatives of the administration is relaxed temporarily. The issue rose to the fore at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg. Finland was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors.

The French Presidency of the European Union has invited representatives from the EU, the UN and the OSCE to a ministerial-level meeting to discuss the crisis in Georgia on 14 October 2008 in Geneva. The EU will be represented by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, High Representative Javier Solana and Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the United Nations by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will take part in the meeting.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, said today he welcomed reports from the Organization's military monitoring officers in Georgia that Russian troops had withdrawn posts that they had set up near South Ossetia after the August conflict.

Paavo Väyrynen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, will travel to Mozambique and Namibia on 14–17 October. The visit to Mozambique will take place on 14–16 October and the visit to Namibia on 16–17 October. The trip focuses on development cooperation, but another objective is to promote Finland’s trade relations with the two countries.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) will meet on Monday, 13 October in Luxembourg. The main theme of the meeting will be the preparation of the October European Council. Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors will attend the Council meeting.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, on behalf of the entire Ministry for Foreign Affairs, congratulates President Martti Ahtisaari for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 10 October. “This is a historic day for Finland. Today all of us, each and every Finn, are surely proud and happy for President Ahtisaari. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Ahtisaari is magnificent recognition for his life’s work in conflict solving and peace promotion.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has today chosen the founder and Chairman of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), President Martti Ahtisaari as the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize 2008.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen stated during his export promotion trip to Azerbaijan that he considers Azerbaijan to be a significant and growing cooperation partner for Finnish business. The minister believes that Azerbaijan’s economic policy, which is open to internationalisation, offers Finnish companies good opportunities for operations.

On Thursday, 9 October 2008, the Government announced Finland's representation at the Brussels European Council that will take place on 15 and 16 October 2008. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, assisted by Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors, will represent Finland at the European Council. Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen will attend when the meeting is dealing with matters concerning the Economic and Monetary Union.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, said on Tuesday, 7 October, that the Organization remains keen to enhance meaningful co-operation with Belarus.