Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Turkey’s Minister for European Affairs Volkan Bozkir met in Helsinki on Wednesday last week. The Ministers did not discuss Cyprus in their meeting. The Ministers believe that the agreement between Turkey and EU facilitate their work in the refugee crisis. They also emphasise the excellent relations and flourishing collaboration between the two nations. In addition to the refugee crisis, the Ministers discussed Turkey’s and EU’s cooperation in terrorism prevention. Minister Soini mentioned at the beginning of the meeting that the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Finland on 6 April.

According to Foreign Minister Timo Soini, Libya will be the next transit country for immigrants trying to get to Europe since the EU and Turkey have closed the route from Turkey. Libya will need advice on border and police force issues, which is a task more suitable for the EU than for NATO. Mr Soini predicts that Libya and the EU will eventually reach a similar agreement as the EU-Turkey agreement. Mr Soini met with his British counterpart Philip Hammond on Monday, and discussed the situation in Libya as well as the British EU-referendum. Mr Hammond believes the Brits will vote to remain in the EU. If Britain leaves the Union, other member states might consider leaving, too. Mr Soini did not want to estimate, whether Finland should consider holding an EU-referendum if Britain leaves the EU.

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met on Tuesday in Moscow and announced that the border stations in Salla and Raja-Jooseppi will be closed for the next six months from other than Finnish, Russian and Belarusian citizens. President Niinistö believes this will be done as soon as possible. President Niinistö is satisfied with the agreement. In addition, President Putin thoroughly evaluated the situation in Syria to President Niinistö. The Finnish President also commented on the terrorist attack in Brussels. He said that Finns should be vigilant, and be prepared for that something like this could also happen in Finland. He is hopeful that Finland can approach these questions and safeguard its citizens so that basic values are maintained.