Foreign Ministry's press releases

Finland’s National Action Plan for implementing UN Resolution 1325, “Women, Peace and Security,” was made public at a seminar organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki on 19 September.

On Friday, 19 September, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed plans for taking Nordic defence policy cooperation forward and Finland’s participation in an initiative concerning the availability of helicopters in crisis management.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will travel to New York for the opening week of the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly on 22–26 September. Stubb will act as the vice-chairman of the Finnish delegation to the General Assembly, which will be led by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb has appointed a high-level delegation to lead efforts to develop a country brand for Finland. Jorma Ollila, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Royal Dutch Shell plc and Nokia Corporation, has been invited to chair the delegation.

Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs Olubanke King-Akerele and Minister of Gender and Development Vabah Gayflor are visiting Finland between 16 and 21 September. The purpose of the visit is to make plans for the women’s leadership conference to be organised next year and to build up closer ties between Finland and Liberia.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will participate on Thursday 18 September in the meeting between the European Union and Central Asian countries, organised by the French Presidency of the EU, addressing especially the issue of security in Central Asia.

The European Union has decided to implement its civilian crisis mission and to deploy about 200 observers in Georgia. The Foreign Ministers of the Member States confirmed launching of the mission at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council held in Brussels on Monday, 15 September. “This is one of the most rapidly launched missions in the European Union’s history,” Foreign Minister Stubb said in Brussels.

16 honorary consuls of Finland from Sub-Saharan Africa will visit Finland on 15-19 September at the invitation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, Ambassador Terhi Hakala, met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tskhinvali today, 15 September.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb of Finland and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden met today in Brussels as chairs of the OSCE and the Council of Europe respectively. Regarding the situation in Georgia,  they called for a strict adherence to the six-point ceasefire agreement of the French and Russian Presidents. It is fundamental that the Russian troops return to their positions held prior to 7 August.