Unit for the Middle East and the Gulf

The Unit for the Middle East and the Gulf is responsible for the following issues:

  • bilateral relations, the EU’s external relations and multilateral institutions in all fields of cooperation (political, trade policy, commercial and economic, cultural and development cooperation) in respect of these countries
  • regional organisations and other bodies of cooperation
  • contribution to the conflict prevention efforts in the countries as a part of Finland’s general foreign policy
  • monitoring of the operation of international organisations and financing institutions in the countries and participation in the policy formulation processes of these organizations, as appropriate, and provision of expert advice on the countries and the region to other Departments of the Ministry.

Email

  • ALA-10@gov.fi

Post address

Unit for the Middle East and the Gulf
PO Box 176
00023
GOVERNMENT
FINLAND

Visiting address

Laivastokatu 22
00160
HELSINKI
FINLAND

Personnel

Hannu Heinonen
Director
  • +358 295 351 501
Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen
Ambassador, Helsinki Policy Forum and the Gulf region
  • +358 295 351 093
CV

Middle East Team

Sami Wacklin
Team Leader
Mika Ruotsalainen
Desk Officer
Syria
  • +358 295 350 384
Heini Laakso
Desk Officer
  • +358 295 350 074
Lauri Särkkä
Desk Officer
  • +358 295 350 781
Suvi Sipilä
Senior Specialist
Development Policy
  • +358 295 351 758
Suvi Turunen
Senior Specialist
Development Policy
  • +358 295 350 852

Gulf Team

Saila Barke
Team Leader
Gulf
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen
  • +358 295 350 226
Anne M´Rabet
Desk Officer
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, GCC, OIC
  • +358 295 350 636
Simo Ristolainen
Desk Officer
Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait
  • +358 295 350 207

E-mail addresses are in the form: forename.surname@gov.fi. Scandinavian characters are replaced by: ä=a, ö=o, å=a.