Foreign Minister Tuomioja talked to the press about globalisation, government´s EU policy and transparency
In Mumbai Tuomioja will talk about the Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy, a joint Finnish-Tanzanian initiative aimed at increasing democracy in international relations by intensifying and reforming dialogue between the various stakeholders, such as governments and non-governmental organisations. From India Tuomioja will travel to the Kyrgyz Republic where he will meet President Askar Akayev. Their talks will focus on current international affairs, the situation in Central Asia and on bilateral relations. The Kyrgyz Republic is a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and a partner of Finnish development cooperation in Central Asia. Tuomioja will return to Finland on 19 January.
The Finnish government will shortly release three reports: on globalisation, on human rights and the third on foreign and security policy. In the press conference Tuomioja denied allegations that Finland would have revised its EU policy. “Naturally, Finland seeks to promote its own interests but at the same time wants the Union to be functional and successful in its endeavours. We oppose permanent blocs. Although there are issues that can create new scenarios for cooperation. We, for example, emphasised the need for cooperation between small nations in the European Convention.
When the inter-governmental conference discussed foreign and security policy we were in close cooperation with non-aligned countries. However, our relations with the great powers, Germany, France and Britain, remain good. The enlarged Union must resist tendencies that would create a ‘two-speed Europe’”, cautioned Tuomioja.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is a strong proponent of transparency to a reasonable extent, said Tuomioja. The number of documents classified secret has clearly diminished over the past few years. Replying to a question on the need for a Finnish truth commission, Tuomioja said no: historical studies will reveal the truth. It is the duty of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to assist researchers in locating the relevant documents, he said.