Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö has issued a statement after the terror attack in Turku on 18 August in which two people died and eight were injured. Mr Niinistö expresses his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. He urges the nation to think about how to deal with the brutal act and calls for a civilised discussion about immigration. Mr Niinistö emphasises that social peace in Finland is founded on trust in authorities and the justice system and their ability to make right and just decisions and hopes people will refrain from purposeful misunderstanding and hatred. He also asked people to remember the courage and kindness witnessed in Turku when bystanders put their own lives at risk in order to save victims of the attack.
Catégorie : Presse Finlandaise
Niinistö, Sipilä and Soini comment on Barcelona attack – « Following the situation with utmost gravity »
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä have commented on the Barcelona terror attack on Twitter. Niinistö noted that terrorists have struck again in Europe and that he is following the situation in Barcelona with utmost gravity. Mr Sipilä said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and that he condemns terrorism in all its forms. Mr Soini called the news from Barcelona sad and said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs was monitoring the situation.
Media: 
Karjalainen
Date: 18.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source:
Niinistö on meeting with Trump: United States interested in Finland’s way of doing things
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on 29 August. Mr Niinistö believes that behind the meeting invitation is the United States’ increased interest towards Finland and the way the country does things. He estimates that Finland’s transatlantic relations have worked well and become closer. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini says the meeting between the Finnish and US presidents is very important and indicative of the high regard in which Finland and President Niinistö are held. Mr Soini believes the United States is interested in hearing the views of a reliable partner and constructive state like Finland.
President Niinistö: ”If Estonia and Russia end up in war, a world war will break out – but that cannot happen”
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö assesses that a war between Russia and Estonia is impossible because a conflict between a Nato member state and Russia would automatically expand practically into a world war. President Niinistö has been invited to the White House at the end of August. With regard to US-European relations, Mr Niinistö is particularly worried about sanctions. The US placed new sanctions against Russia this summer, which raised concern in the EU about the future of energy investments. President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has even suggested taking counter-measures against the US. Mr Niinistö says this is a problem in the transatlantic relationship.
Price tag of carbon sinks to Finland may be 300 million if EU proposal comes true
Summary:
Professor Antti Asikainen of the Natural Resources Institute of Finland says Finland will suffer if the European Parliament sides with the proposal of the Parliament’s Environment Committee regarding forest economy. Implementing the Finnish government’s bioeconomy goals would diminish Finland’s carbon sink between 2021 and 2030 to 13 to 21 million tons which would have to compensated through emission cuts in other sectors or through buying emission rights. Mikael Ohlström of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) says that if carbon sinks can be compensated through emissions trading, Finland may face a bill worth as much as 300 million euros per year.
Macedonian foreign minister visits Helsinki
Summary:
The Macedonian Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov is visiting Finland on 17 August. He will meet Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini to discuss topical themes such as Macedonia’s rapprochement with the EU and the situation in the Western Balkans.
Media: Kaleva
Date: 17.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –
Niinistö: World political situation increasingly alarming: « Central bank statements have more effect than North Korean missiles »
Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö says the world political situation is increasingly alarming. He notes that the economy has kept an admirably cool head in the geopolitical twists and turns and that statements from central bank chairmen have a bigger effect on the economy than e.g. North Korean missiles. During his speech at the centenary of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, Mr Niinistö wondered whether free trade could be a new direction for diplomacy.
Media: MTV – Finland
Date: 10.8.2017
Journalist: Petteri Savolainen
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö
Mykkänen: Hopes for a marriage of convenience between the EU and Britain strengthening
Summary:
Britain is considering entering into a temporary customs union with the EU after the country leaves the Union in spring 2019. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen estimates that this strengthens the hopes for a marriage of convenience between the two parties as it indicates that Britain wants to ensure that industrial trade to Europe continues uninterrupted. He says a customs union would definitely be a good thing for Finland.
Media: Turun Sanomat
Date: 15.8.2017
Journalist: STT / Olli Kuivaniemi
Main source: Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen