Ministry for Foreign Affairs 100 years: YYA Treaty seminar

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise a seminar on the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, known as the YYA Treaty, on Tuesday 24 April at 13.00 in the Department of Communications, Kanavakatu 3 C, Helsinki.

Finland's 100-year-old foreign and security policy cannot be presented without reviewing the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, concluded with the Soviet Union, which was in force for over 40 years. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the YYA Treaty. What matters influenced Finland's negotiating position in 1948? How dangerous was the situation then and in the subsequent years?

Seminar programme:

12.30 Coffee
13.00 Opening of the seminar, Matti Anttonen, Permanent State Secretary
13.10 YYA Treaty negotiations in 1948 – Finland's position at stake, Kimmo Rentola, Professor, University of Helsinki
14.00 Foreign and security policy subject to the YYA Treaty – successes and side effects, Pär Stenbäck, Minister


Break

15.00 End of the YYA Treaty, breaking away from the Treaty – how Finland established its new position, Jaakko Kalela, Ambassador
16.00 The significance of the YYA Treaty from the 2020 perspective, Sari Rautio, Director of Unit, Political Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs  


Registration by Thursday 19 April 2018 via this link(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)

Inquiries: Tiina Tähtinen, Desk Officer responsible for the Foreign Ministry's centenary celebrations, tel. +358 295 351 765.