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.

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.

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: –

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

Summary:
The appointment of high-level diplomat Pavel Kuznetsov as Russia’s new ambassador to Finland signals that Finland is an important neighbour to Russia, estimate former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Mr Kuznetsov has worked at the embassy in Helsinki in the 80s and 90s and also speaks Finnish. Mr Talvitie estimates that, in the current situation, it is good that he is already well known in Finland.

Media:  Karjalainen
Date: 15.8.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: Former diplomat Heikki Talvitie and Jussi Lassila, Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Summary:
Vice President of Parliament’s Grand Committee Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP) criticizes the sharp comments of Foreign Minister Timo Soini on the internal transfers of asylum seekers in the EU. Soini said on Monday at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting that Finland will not accept new decisions on the transfer of asylum seekers before all countries have fulfilled their old obligations. According to Tuppurainen, Soini endangers Finland’s solution-seeking EU policy. « It is undoubtedly a problem that not all member states have been involved in the burden sharing. However, the problems are not solved by the fact that the countries that have hitherto acted responsibly are now hitting a full brake », Tuppurainen tells STT.

Summary:
The editorial of Turun Sanomat discusses the meeting of the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Russian President Vladimir Putin taking place in Savonlinna today. The two presidents met already in March but Ukraine was not mentioned then and it has been guessed whether the topic will be raised this time or not. The editorial thinks that it should be discussed to avoid any future incidents. Beside other topics, questions relating to the two countries’ economic relations will probably be on agenda as the counter-sanctions caused by the European Union’s sanctions set to Russia are harming Finland’s export of foods to the country. The meeting will have more meaning to President Niinistö than to President Putin who will mainly arrive to Finland to celebrate the country’s 100th anniversary. However, he will listen carefully what President Niinistö has to say about the EU’s current state as well as brexit’s effects.

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat has interviewed Kare Halonen, Finland’s State Secretary for EU Affairs since 2008. He visits Brussels about 15 times a year, and takes part in preparing summits with other EU Member States advisors. The article states that it is quite justified to claim that no one else has had more influence on Finland’s EU policy during the last few years than Mr Halonen. He also acts as Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s EU adviser.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 26.7.2017
Journalist: Pekka Mykkänen
Main source: –