Press releases, 18.8.2021

Meeting of Heads of Mission organised virtually

The Heads of Finnish Missions abroad will convene for their annual meeting on 23-25 August. The meeting will discuss foreign policy, international relations, the state of the global economy and Finland’s positioning in the post-pandemic world. Due to COVID-19, the Foreign Ministry will hold the meeting virtually in its newly renovated premises in Merikasarmi.

Aerial photo of Merikasarmi.
Merikasarmi. Photo: Joonas Lehtipuu.

The programme also includes topical speeches by Government leaders as well as confidential discussions with the Ambassadors. The speakers addressing the Ambassadors virtually include President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist and Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen. Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen will chair the meeting.

Permanent State Secretary Anttonen notes that the embassies are doing work of prime importance to promote Finland's interests. “The work of the Finnish Missions abroad has only been accentuated during COVID-19. I am delighted to convene our Ambassadors from across the world once again, hear about the policy outlines adopted by our foreign policy leadership, and exchange ideas as well as learn from each other. This will be the second virtual meeting for us, but we aim to be able to convene in person at our renovated premises in Merikasarmi as soon as possible.”

 

Live webcasts of the public speeches will be available on the  Foreign Ministry’s website  and YouTube channel(Link to another website.). Video recordings and speeches will be posted after the meeting on the Foreign Ministry’s website at  Foreign Ministry’s website .

It is also possible to follow the meeting on Twitter using hashtag #SLSK2021.

Photographs of the meeting will be available on the Foreign Ministry’s Flickr account.

Monday, 23 August

 

9.00–9.30     

Opening address by Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen

9.30–10.00    

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
 

13.00–13.15

Speech by Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist

13.30–14.00

Speech by Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari

15.30–15.45

Speech by Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen

Tuesday, 24 August    

 

10.15–10.30    

Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö

11.45–12.00   

Speech by Prime Minister Sanna Marin

 

Inquiries: 
General inquiries about the meeting: Adviser to the Under-Secretary of State Salla Romakkaniemi, tel. +358 50 471 2783
Media arrangements: Vilma Sorri, Communications Officer, tel. +358 50 476 2549, and Anu Pulkkinen, Director of Unit, tel. +358 40 481 9880 (requests for interviews with the Ambassadors) Katariina Salo, tel. +358 50 473 4503

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.