President of Finland Alexander Stubb and Foreign Minister Valtonen visited Ankara 1.10.2024
On October 1st, President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, made an official visit to Ankara. President Stubb’s delegation included Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. During the visit, President Stubb and Foreign Minister Valtonen had high-level discussions with the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Numan Kurtulmuş. They both also participated events at Bilkent University and YTB along with media interviews.
Keynote Speeches on Peace Mediation
The official visit began with a wreath-laying ceremony at Anıtkabir, honoring the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Following this, President Stubb delivered a speech at the Martti Ahtisaari Legacy Seminar, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Finland and Türkiye. The seminar launched a global series of discussions on the legacy of President Ahtisaari and the future of peace mediation. The event was organized by CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, Bilkent University and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Several strong bridges between Türkiye and Finland
President Stubb and Foreign Minister Valtonen met with Speaker of the Parliament Numan
Kurtulmuş, where they discussed Ukraine, Gaza, and changes within international institutions. Cooperation between the Finnish and Turkish parliaments remains strong.
In a celebration of culture and history, the President attended a book launch for "Finnish Tatars," an event co-organized with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, YTB, and the Finladiya Islam Cemaati (Finnish Islamic Congregation). In the event, President Stubb highlighted the rich history and important role of the Finnish Tatar community.
President Stubb met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
In the evening, President Stubb met with President Erdoğan at the presidential palace. He was welcomed with an official ceremony before engaging in discussions with President Erdoğan. The topics included Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and bilateral relations. Both parties agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Middle East. The 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship was noted, and President Stubb stated that, “as NATO Allies, our relationship is better than ever.”
The visit concluded with a joint press conference, where President Erdoğan raised the need for peace and a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. President Stubb stated that the two presidents discussed for two hours about the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and strengthening economic relations between Finland and Türkiye. President Stubb emphasized that both Finland and Türkiye agree on Ukraine's right to defend itself and that Türkiye's ability to engage in discussions with both Russia and Ukraine is extremely important.
During the day President Stubb and Foreign Minister Valtonen also greeted the staff of the Finnish embassy in Ankara and gave interviews to both Finnish and Turkish media.
Overall, the delegation had a successful visit that showed great promise for the future of Finland-Türkiye relations.
Kuvat: Matti Porre/Tasavallan presidentin kanslia