Summary:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö spoke about various topics in his annual New Year’s speech. In the part that focused on foreign affairs, President Niinistö talked about the major powers, North Korea and climate change. According to President Niinistö, the small Finland has its own place in world politics, and the country likes to offer its services to others when there is demand for them, while the world is spinning around and major powers control world politics. President Niinistö is concerned over the shrinking roles of the European Union and United Nations (UN). Finland supports the initiative to reform the UN, with the aim to increase the effectiveness and responsibility of the organisation, the President said. In his speech, President Niinistö also expressed a wish on stopping climate change and progress of the Paris Climate Agreement. He pointed out that Finland is taking responsibility in the sector. The planet is not only for us, it is for continuity, and that we must guarantee, the President stated.

Summary:
The official Finnish name for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs changes from ulkoasiainministeriö to ulkoministeriö. The Ministry’s Swedish and English names remain unchanged. At the beginning of the year, the Ministry also gets a new visual look and logo.

Media:  Demokraatti.fi
Date: 31.12.2017
Journalist: STT
Main source: –

Summary:
Helsingin Sanomat interviews President Sauli Niinistö, who says that if he was re-elected in the upcoming Presidential elections in January, he would approach his second term through « three peaces ». By this, the President means avoiding wars, as well as maintaining the peace of nature and society. What comes to relations with Russia, President Niinistö finds that they are as good as they can be under the circumstances. « Under the circumstances means that Finland was the first to condemn the Crimea takeover and Finland has shown its support to sanctions, » the President adds. He declines to comment on under what circumstances Finland should join NATO. However, the President says that if Sweden joined NATO, Finland should consider its options. In EU affairs, President Niinistö does not believe that Brexit is a breaking point for EU. When Finland becomes EU president in autumn 2019, President Niinistö thinks that Finland should then keep mutual solidarity as well as security issues on the agenda.

Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö has implied that Sweden would not ratify the treaty banning nuclear weapons but would support the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. According to Mr Niinistö, Sweden’s answer to the question will come after a year. Finland has only signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which also includes nuclear weapon states. Foreign Affairs Minister Timo Soini says that it remains to be seen what Sweden does, but Finland is not to sign the treaty banning nuclear weapons. It did not even take part in the negotiations.

Media:  Demokraatti.fi
Date: 28.11.2017
Journalist: Johannes Ijäs
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

Summary:
The international community tries to bring new hope to the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini discussed the situation with Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday. All EU and Asian Foreign Ministers who discussed with the Myanmar leader called for an end to the violence. Minister Soini told STT that there is some optimism in the situation but no decisive steps have been taken to improve the situation. He found it positive that negotiations are carried out to find a solution. Minister Soini reminded that even a peace Nobel prize winner cannot make miracles happen, as the army has great power in Myanmar.

Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö spoke about NATO, neighbourhood with Russia and the Baltic States, among other things, in an interview with the Spanish El País. He said that after the Crimea crisis, the security environment in Europe has changed. Particularly the situation of the Baltic States is concerning, as their geopolitical relations are not clear, the President said. Mr Niinistö added that he has good relations with President Putin and that he is concerned over the cyber war that originates in the east.

Media:  Iltalehti
Date: 16.11.2017
Journalist: Laura Peräsalo
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Summary:
Maaseudun Tulevaisuus notes that while Finland had great expectations for Estonia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, two very bad decisions for Finland were made under Estonia’s leadership. One is the lulucf-legislation, which incorporated forests as part of Europe’s climate goals unfavourably to Finland. The other was the curbing of herring quota in the Gulf of Bothnia more than recommended by scientists. Due to the Presidency, Estonia had influence over the result. The European Commission defended its proposal to cut the herring quota to a half, while Finland expected a 32 per cent cut.

Summary:
Finland’s Europe Minister Sampo Terho talks about European politics in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat. He has recently met the German Europe Minister Michael Rothin and talked about the euro, immigration and brexit, among others. Minister Terho does not believe that Germany would change that much even though the government is about to change. According to him, the whole Europe is moving notably at the moment.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 9.11.2017
Journalist: Anna-Liina Kauhanen
Main source: Finland’s Europe Minister Sampo Terho