Secretary of State Stenlund will participate in the Africa-Nordic Meeting of Foreign Ministers in South Africa

Press release 97/2015
8 April 2015

Secretary of State Peter Stenlund will deputise Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja in the Africa-Nordic Meeting of Foreign Ministers in South Africa from 9 to 10 April 2015. During the two days, the ministers will discuss topical issues related to Africa and the Nordic countries.  The themes of the meeting include African integration and inclusive economic growth. There will be an opportunity for more informal discussion on current international issues over dinner.

In addition to the Nordic countries, participants will arrive from Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The participating African countries have emphasized, in particular, their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and good governance. South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has also invited the Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya and Niger to the meeting.

The Africa-Nordic Meetings of Foreign Ministers were initiated by the late Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2001. Finland hosted the previous meeting held in Hämeenlinna in 2013.

Additional information: Counsellor Erik af Hällström, Leader of Africa Policy Team, tel. +358 40 5095 107.

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