News, 12.1.2007

Ambassadors appointed to Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Czech Republic and Tunisia

The President of the Republic appointed today, 12 January, the following new ambassadors:

Ilpo Manninen Finland's Ambassador to Croatia, Ilpo Manninen, is appointed Finland´s Ambassador to Brazil as from 1 April, 2007. Manninen began his career at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1977. He has served at the Finnish UN mission in Geneva as well as at the embassies in Madrid, Bonn, Santiago de Chile and Beograd. While at the Ministry in Finland, Manninen has been responsible, inter alia, for issues related to the Western Balkans.  

Pekka Orpana Director Pekka Orpana at the Unit for Central and South-Eastern Europe at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is appointed Ambassador of Finland to Lima, Peru as from 1 August, 2007. Orpana joined the Ministry in 1981. He has been posted to the embassies in Algiers, London and Pretoria as well as to the Finnish UN mission in New York. In Finland Orpana worked at the legal, external economic relations and political departments of the Foreign Ministry.

Ulla Väistö Ulla Väistö, Director General for Administration, is appointed Ambassador of Finland to Mexico City as from 1 September, 2007. Since joining the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1976, Väistö has worked at the embassies in Brussels, Vienna, Mexico, Bonn and Paris as well as in Finland's Permanent Representation in Strasbourg. While at the Ministry, Väistö worked at the external economic relations, political and administrative affairs departments.

Hannu Kyröläinen Hannu Kyröläinen, Director General for Global Affairs, is appointed Ambassador of Finland to Prague, Czech Republic, as from 1 September, 2007. Kyröläinen joined the diplomatic service in 1982. He has been posted to Finland's Permanent Representation in Geneva and in New York. In Helsinki, Kyröläinen worked as the Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Director at the Division for Western Countries and the European Union and Deputy Director-General for Political Affairs.

Laura Reinilä Finland's Ambassador to Ukraine, Laura Reinilä, is appointed Ambassador of Finland to Tunisia as from 1 September, 2007. Reinilä joined the Ministry in 1981. She has been posted to Finland's OECD mission and to the embassies in Moscow, Canberra and Paris. While at the Ministry, Reinilä has worked as the Deputy Chief of Protocol and Ambassador in charge of civilian crisis management.