Current affairs

The President of the Republic appointed today, 14 December, Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Juha Markkanen to serve as Head of the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles. Markkanen will assume his functions on 1 September 2013.

Hurricane Sandy has moved from the United States East Coast towards inland and Canada. Storm winds and rains have passed. The Finnish diplomatic missions urge residents and visitors in the area to watch out for fallen down trees and power lines, prepare for dangerous conditions and follow local officials' situation updates. The Embassy in Washington and Consulate General are closely following the situation.

Powerful hurricane Sandy will bring heavy rain and wind to New England from North Carolina. Finnish diplomatic missions urge Finnish citizens living and visiting in the area to follow the announcements of the local authorities. The missions will keep following the situation. In emergencies the MFA firstly recommends contacting the local authorities. Where necessary, tourists and their families may contact the Ministry’s on-call telephone number +385 9 1605 5555.

U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller will visit Finland on 29 August. During her visit she will conduct official discussions with Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is continuing the reorganisation of Finland’s network of diplomatic missions.

During their meeting in Helsinki on 27 June, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja discussed topics of interest to both Finland and the United States. “Finland and the United States have many common interests, from security to human rights,” Clinton said.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the United States will visit Finland on 27 June at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja.

Slideshow: Restaurant Day lets anyone set up a pop-up resto. The Helsinki idea has quickly spread around Finland and abroad.

Invented in Helsinki and celebrating its first anniversary on May 19, 2012, Restaurant Day allows anyone to set up their own café, resto or bar for one day. It has quickly spread to other cities and become a Finnish tradition, also gaining popularity abroad.

Slideshow: Restaurant Day lets anyone set up a pop-up resto. The Helsinki idea has quickly spread around Finland and abroad.