Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lehtomäki to visit Latin America, Argentina will be dropped from the itinerary

Press release 103/2006
20 April, 2006


Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki's visit to Argentina has been prepared for a long time, the aim being development of trade relations between Finland and Argentina in all respects. "However, in recent times we have been under the impression that the guest would not be welcome", Minister Lehtomäki points out. There is a risk that the ongoing pulp mill conflict between Argentina and Uruguay, in which Finland is not a party, might drown the positive objectives of the visit. Finnish government is strongly committed to developing positive relations with Argentina and hopes that the visit could be carried out at a more favourable time in the future. The programme planned for the business delegation will be chaired at a high civil servant level.

Between April 25 and May 2, the Minister will visit Chile, Peru and Uruguay in accordance with the original itinerary in order to promote trade relations, exports and investments and discuss development cooperation projects, the areas of emphasis during the Finnish EU Presidency as well as topical questions in trade and development policy.

Additional information: Director General Elina Kalkku, Department for the Americas and Asia, tel. +358 9 1605 5326, and Special Adviser to the Minister Satu Mäki, tel. +358 9 1605 6306