Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto to attend meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kranj and to visit Tallinn

NordenBladet — An informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) will be held in Kranj, Slovenia, on 2–3 September 2021. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. After the meeting, on 3–4 September, Minister Haavisto will visit Tallinn.The topics of discussion at the Gymnich meeting will be Afghanistan, the relations between the EU and China and the situation in the Persian Gulf. Additionally, a discussion will be held with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.The foreign ministers will continue their discussion on the situation in Afghanistan and on the EU’s policy on Afghanistan. Finland emphasises that the EU should try to play an important role in questions relating to Afghanistan also in future. The future administration in Afghanistan must commit to respect for universal human rights and other international obligations, such as the right of citizens and residents of Afghanistan to leave the country and the rights of women and girls.Furthermore, the foreign ministers will have an informal discussion on the current state of the EU–China relations and on the EU’s approach to China, which is based on the EU’s Joint Communication on China, published in 2019. Finland has consistently highlighted the importance of regular, high-level discussion on China.  With regard to the situation in the Persian Gulf, the ministers will discuss the EU’s approach to the region. For Finland, closer and stronger relations and dialogue between the EU and the countries of the region at all levels is important, including regional cooperation with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).The discussion with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will focus on the Indo-Pacific region and the cooperation between the EU and India.After the meeting, Foreign Minister Haavisto will travel to Tallinn.  Haavisto will attend the annual Lennart Meri Conference and have a meeting with President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets.The topics of discussion will be the bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia, the COVID-19 situation and the post-pandemic recovery measures, as well as the regional situation and such topical international questions as Afghanistan and Belarus. “It is always good to have an exchange of views with our close neighbour Estonia,” Minister Haavisto says.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi