Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb met with Condoleezza Rice
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Alexander Stubb, met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington D.C. on Thursday, 17 July. The issues discussed included Iran, Georgia, Russia, the European Union and Finnish-American relations. Minister Stubb, on his first official visit to the United States, also gave a much-talked about speech on the European Union's future at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"We discussed the situations in Georgia, Iran, Russia, the EU and the relations between Finland and the U.S. Regarding Georgia, Madame Rice gave her full support to Finland and to our efforts to find a peaceful solution for example in the South Ossetia region. She requested that the international community and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe take action in the matter as well. On the subject of Iran, I commended the United States' efforts to resolve the situation with diplomatic negotiations, unlike in Iraq", he noted.
Also on the agenda were Russia's new administration and President Dmitry Medvedev's initiatives as well as the current political tumult within the EU. According to Mr Stubb, the impending political crisis in Georgia and the so called "frozen conflicts" in Abkhazia and South Ossetia were highest on the list of items.
Madame Rice enquired about Finland's stance on Afghanistan and expressed her appreciation for the Northern country's peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Finland is currently in the process of sending civilian crisis management experts into Afghanistan to work in police training and border control.
"Our contribution is both respected and welcomed."
The presidential battle is well on its way in the United States, and the country will have a new president and administration in 2009. Minister Stubb said the timing of his meeting mith Secretary Rice was approriate.
"As a former state official I can attest that administrations come and go, but officials usually stay. Finland's good relations with the whole U.S. administration are an advantage."
"World politics is in a state of turmoil because Russia has a new leader, and the U.S. will soon have one as well. The EU is in flux due to the Lisbon Treaty, but the union may also have a president in the future. In other words many major players are repositioning themselves, and that is why visits such as this are valuable."
Madame Rice and Mr Stubb had discussed the possibility of playing a game of golf together during his stay in Washington, but the plans had to be postponed because of the Secretary's travels. The Finnish minister, however, invited Madame Rice to Helsinki for the OSCE meeting in December.
"We decided that should she be able to make it to Helsinki, we will go and watch a game of ice hockey."
After the early morning meeting, Mr Stubb visited influential think tanks and media. His luncheon speech, titled "Will the EU ever become a superpower?", attracted a considerable crowd to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a prestigious foreign policy think tank.
In his speech, the Minister discussed whether the EU could be considered a superpower, and what could be done to improve the efficacy and public perception of the union. Among his prescriptions, he recommended that the Lisbon Treaty be approved and ratified "even if we need to devise creative solutions to do so". The EU needs a president, a foreign minister, stronger representation abroad and a common defense. The union should also hold a common seat in the UN security council, Mr Stubb proposed.
"Finally, we need a change in the current sour mood within the EU. I am extremely worried about it, and I believe it will have repercussions to the world order. Europeans must realize that there is no alternative to further European integration."
Later on Thursday the Minister's visit to Washington continued with meetings with the foreign policy advisors to Senator Barack Obama's and John McCain's presidential campaigns. He also planned to watch the 47th Congressional Baseball Game, which matches Washington's top Democratic politicians against their Republican counterparts.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Speech by Mr Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Will the EU Ever Become a Superpower?(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)