Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini (Finns) on Tuesday. Mr Zarif, whom the article calls the « pin-up boy of international politics », said that Iran will not negotiate its missile program with the US. He said that the interest in Iran is huge, but that the banks’ operations are the only obstacle. Iran is interested in Finnish expertise in transport, cleantech, agriculture and information technology. Mr Zarif dodged the questions about Iran’s democracy, the status of minority peoples, such as Arabs, Azeris and Kurds. Mr Soini said in general terms that Finnish companies should consider the human rights issues. « Companies have social responsibility. If human rights are not in order, it is harmful for business in the long run. This will be addressed at national and EU level, » said Mr Soini. He described Mr Zarifet as « moderate, sharp and very professional ».
Niinistö wants a referendum on NATO
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö has commented on Finland’s foreign and security policy in YLE’s Ykkösaamu. President Niinistö said he would organise a referendum on Finland’s possible NATO membership. He thinks it would be such a major change in Finland’s foreign policy that the people must have their say in it. President Niinistö thinks referendums are part of democracy.
Media: Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition)
Date: 29.5.2016
Journalist: Eeva Palojärvi
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö
Un message aux auteurs du tag
Durant la nuit du 10 au 11 mai 2016, la façade du 34 Avenue Jolain a été anonymement dégradée.
À cette adresse se trouve le consulat de Finlande, représentation régionale de l’ambassade de Finlande et de la Finlande.
Le Consulat est là pour aider les citoyens finlandais en cas de problème dans la région, conseiller des étudiants qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs études dans ce pays et nouer des partenariats économiques, universitaires et culturels avec la Finlande, tout cela de manière totalement bénévole.
Finnish banks: We do not offer tax haven investments
Country Senior Executive in Finland Ari Kaperi said on Monday that investments in Panama have only been offered by Nordea’s Luxembourg branch. OP, Danske, S-Pankki, Handelsbanken, FIM and Evli say that they do not offer customers investments in tax havens. OP says, however, that it cannot quarantee yet that this has never happened in the past. According to the Panama papers the newest company set up in Panama is for a client by Nordea is from 2015. According to Nordea there are still around 90 similar companies existing. Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority is discussing with ECB whether it will start an investigation concerning Nordea Finland’s banking operations.
The rate of indebtedness is still too high
Statistics Finland reported on Thursday about Finland’s public debt to Eurostat. While the deficit, at 2.7 % of the GDP, was a modestly positive surprise, the debt increased to 63.1 % of the GDP. It remains to be seen how the Commission will react to Finland’s debt problem. Managing to put the deficit under the EU limit of 3 % may give Finland some breathing room, but the poor economy gives little hope for reducing the debt. The Commission has abandoned the agreements about how member states are reproached, and makes up new rules on the fly. It may warn Finland, or it may not. Finland is not the biggest worry the EU has right now.
Turkish PM in Finland: We have not sent refugees back to Syria
The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutğlu visited Finland on Wednesday, Helsingin Sanomat writes. He said that the claims that Turkey has sent refugees back to Syria are not correct. The Prime Minister praised Finland for helping to advance Turkey’s EU membership negotiations. Finland’s Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, then again, reminded that Turkey must make reforms that guarantee, for example, freedom of speech. PM Davutoğlu was convinced that Turkey will fulfill all the requirements to become an EU member state. He added that Turkey is committed to European values. The PM wants to improve the already good relations between Finland and Turkey and to multiply trade between them.
Niinistö in America
President Sauli Niinistö spoke about his visit to the United States in an interview with Lännen Media. The President does not believe the relations between Finland and the US will change after the election of the new US President. In the US, he wanted to hear about Syria and there were actually long talks about the issue. The President believes the Syria question can improve the relations between the US and Russia. He has understood that the ceasefire in Syria was based on negotiations between these two countries. President Niinistö adds that the situation in Syria looks better than before.
President Niinistö comments Finland’s relations with US
President Sauli Niinistö spoke at the spring meeting of Finnish Defence Association, Maanpuolustusyhdistys, this week. He said that Finland’s security and foreign policy has not changed though some had claimed so. Finland has reacted to the situation but not overreacted, the President explained. In his speech, President Niinistö emphasised collaboration with Sweden as well as transatlantic relations. He hopes that Finland and Sweden would do their best to improve the stability of the Baltic Sea region.
Media: Ilta-Sanomat
Date: 6.4.2016
Journalist: Mika Lehto
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö