Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb to the United States

Press release 251/2008
14 July, 2008

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will make his first visit as foreign minister of Finland to Washington, D.C. on 16–19 July, where he will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States.

The issues to be discussed include topical international policy questions, Finland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE – especially the situation in Georgia – trans-Atlantic relations and development of the EU in the light of the Lisbon Treaty.

Aside from the political meetings, Minister Stubb will also meet with leaders of key international policy research institutes, such as Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution and Jessica Mathews, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. At the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Stubb will deliver a speech entitled “Will the EU ever become a superpower?”

Stubb will visit the campaign offices of the American presidential candidates and will have talks with advisors responsible for the election campaign. Several visits to the editorial offices of central media in Washington, D.C. are also on the agenda.

Minister Stubb’s delegation includes Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Director General of the Political Department, Marja Rislakki, Head of the Unit for North America, and Jori Arvonen, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Additional information: Head of Unit Marja Rislakki, tel. +358 9 1605 5624, and Jori Arvonen, Senior Adviser to the Minister, mobile tel. +358 50 553 6117. Additional information on media arrangements in Washington: Press Counsellor Kari Mokko, Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C., tel. +1 202 468 0269, E-mail [email protected]