Foreign Ministry's press releases

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, met top Tajik officials today in Dushanbe, agreeing on the continued work of the OSCE in the country. Speaking after meetings with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister Stubb said he welcomed the positive signs of Tajikistan's active participation in the OSCE.

NATO Assistant Secretary General Mr. Martin Howard will visit Finland on 4-5 June due to the multinational disaster response field exercise

High-level representatives from the five countries holding the 2007-2011 OSCE Chairmanships met today at the invitation of this year’s OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, to discuss enhanced co-ordination and common priority areas.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will participate in the High-Level Conference on World Food Security, and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy to be organised in Rome on 4 June by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO. The conference will bring together more than 150 Heads of State and Governments and ministers to discuss the topical question of soaring food and fuel prices and to seek common solutions to the food crisis thus created.

Minister Stubb, who met with Georgian Minister Tkeshelashvili on 30 May, expressed his concern that the existing negotiating format in the South Ossetian conflict has not led to resolution of the conflict. “It's time to explore possibilities for a new negotiating format”, Stubb stated. In his view, the time is favourable for review of the frozen conflicts. The new Government in Russia, the elections in Georgia, and the EU and OSCE activities, among others, contribute to a positive atmosphere.

The conference concerning cluster bombs organised in Dublin on 19—30 May has concluded an agreement, including a comprehensive ban on cluster munitions as well as considerable obligations related to clearing the munitions and assisting the victims.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, will visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan from 2 to 5 June.

Representatives of five OSCE Chairmanship countries for the years 2007–2011 will gather in Helsinki on 1–2 June, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, the OSCE Chairman-in Office, to discuss enhancing cooperation among the Chairmanships and future priorities of the organisation.

Foreign Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili of Georgia will visit Finland on Friday, 30 May.

The European Union has approved a mandate on the basis of which negotiations for a new cooperation agreement with Russia will be launched. Decision on the matter was made at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on Monday. Finland’s representatives in the meeting were Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen and Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies.