Foreign Minister Tuomioja to EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting
(7 February 2014)
The EU Foreign Affairs Council was convened in Brussels on 10 February. Finland’s representative in the meeting was Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. The topics on the meeting agenda included the EU Eastern Partnership and Southern Neighbourhood, Yemen, the Central African Republic, and the conflict in Syria and its impacts on Lebanon and Iraq. As regards the EU’s Eastern Partnership, the Foreign Affairs Council focused on the current situation in Ukraine in particular. The Ministers also discussed the situations in other Eastern Partnership countries and the follow-up of the Vilnius Summit. In reference to the conflict in Syria, the main topic between the Ministers was the negotiation in Geneva, seeking political solution to the situation in the country. The Ministers also discussed the regional repercussions of the conflict in Syria on Lebanon and Iraq in particular. As regards the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, the Fore ign Affairs Council took stock of the current situations in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. In addition, the Ministers considered the situation in Yemen, which had just completed its national dialogue process. Regarding the Central African Republic, the issue on the agenda was the current situation of the preparations for the military crisis management mission of the EU (EUFOR RCA) in the country.
Nordic Foreign and Defence Ministers meet in Iceland
The joint meeting of Nordic Foreign and Defence Ministers was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 11–12 February. Finland’s representatives in the meeting were Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Defence Minister Carl Haglund. The meeting addressed topical foreign and security policy issues and Nordic security policy cooperation. In connection with the meeting, the Ministers got acquainted with the “Iceland Air Meet 2014” airdefence training. The meeting of Nordic Foreign Ministers was also held in the same context on 11 February. In their meeting, the Foreign Ministers debated on Nordic security policy cooperation. On his way to Iceland, Minister Haglund met Swedish Minister of Defence Karin Enström in Stockholm on 11 February. The Ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation between the countries.
Finland donates 5 million Euros for traderelated projects in least developed countries
The Government of Finland has decided a new donation of 5 million Euros to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Multi-donor Trust Fund to support EIF activities in least developed countries (LDCs) for the period 2014-2015.
President of the Republic and Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s possible participation in stabilisation of Central African Republic
“With this contribution Finland continues its strong support to LDCs in their efforts to integrate into the global economy and to fight poverty through trade” said H.E. Mr. Alexander Stubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade. He emphasized that the successful outcome at the WTO ministerial conference in Bali was of particular value to small countries as it strengthens the multilateral trading system. “The EIF can play a strong role in supporting LDCs to fully participate and benefit from multilateral trade agreements”. “We greatly appreciate the strong support that Finland has provided to the EIF since the start of the programme”, said Dr Ratnakar Adhikari, EIF’s Executive Director, “this contribution is particularly important as it comes at a critical juncture, where LDCs are increasingly rolling out projects that address productive capacity and supply-side constraints in the areas of agriculture, trade facilitation and services.” Finland has been a long standing and active partner of the EIF, a multidonor programme which supports LDCs to be more active players in the global trading system by helping them tackle supply-side constraints to trade. This contribution adds to the over 8.5 million USD Finland already donated to the EIF since its inception. Finland also chairs the EIF Steering Committee, which gathers LDCs, donors and partner agencies to provide overall strategic advice and guidance on the programme’s implementation.
Government Communications Department
On Wednesday 5 February, the
President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s possibilities to participate in the EU operation which is currently under preparation to stabilise the crisis in the Central African Republic. The Cabinet Committee outlined that Finland’s possibilities to participate are to be examined more closely. The EU will continue to prepare for the operation on the basis of the decision made by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in January. It is hoped that the EU will soon decide on the launch of the operation. The planned operation is to support efforts to stabilise the security situation in the Central African Republic and to promote humanitarian measures and the protection of civilians. The Cabinet Committee also discussed the progress of measures to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile as the country’s internal transports have been delayed. For that reason, the maritime operation carried out by Denmark and Norway to transport chemicals from Syria will continue longer than expected. The mission of the Deployable CBRN Laboratory troop deployed by Finland is to be continued until chemical weapons have been transported for elimination from Syria; however, no longer than until 30 June 2014. The meeting between the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy also discussed closer defence cooperation between Finland and Sweden. Closer bilateral cooperation between Finland and Sweden is a natural continuation of the current Nordic cooperation development. A work plan for closer cooperation between the Finnish and Swedish defence administrations will be drawn up in spring 2014. Currently ongoing cooperation projects will be taken into account in the formulation of the planned closer cooperation. New opportunities for cooperation will be examined in all military services and common capability areas. The cooperation initiative will apply to peacetime operations and it will not include a collective defence obligation. The Cabinet Committee also discussed the prospects of NATO partnership cooperation which will be on the agenda of the preparations for the NATO Summit 2014 in the autumn and also as the ISAF operation in Afghanistan will be brought to a conclusion at the end of the year.
Embassy of Finland
E-3, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, Indi Tel. +91-11-4149 7500 E-mail: sanomat.nde@formin.fi