Summary:
Member states of the international Arms Trade Treaty are gathering to Geneva this week. Finland has presided the agreement for a year with ambassador Klaus Korhonen as chairperson. The Finnish Committee of 100 criticises Finland for selling arms to Saudi-Arabia and the Arab Emirates while acting as chair of the treaty. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini assures that the rules for arms export are very tight but notes that it is no use if Finland unilaterally and categorically bans arms export e.g. to the Middle East. According to Mr Soini, the most important thing now is to strengthen the treaty and that progress has already been made.

Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö met with Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov in Helsinki on 12 September. Mr Ryabkov thanked Finland for its constructive input in issued related to safety in the Baltic Sea region. Mr Ryabkov was in Finland to meet with US under secretary of state Thomas Shannon. Diplomat Jukka Valtasaari estimates that the negotiations between Mr Shannon and Mr Ryabkov are part of standard diplomatic dealings and negotiations which is why no details of the discussions were offered to the public. Mr Valtasaari estimates that Finland’s role in the negotiations comes from tradition. During and at the end of the cold war several negotiations between the superpowers happened in Finland.

Summary:
The situation in North Korea was one of the topics at the meeting between Nordic, Baltic and British foreign ministers in London on 4 September. Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini estimates that China has the biggest opportunity to influence North Korea. He notes that the situation is worrying even though an escalation is not in sight. Mr Soini believes it is in the interest of Russia and China to maintain the status quo as increased tension would immediately affect their borders. He says that in such a situation small countries can mainly advice superpowers to continue to negotiate.

Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini hopes that a diplomatic solution can be found with North Korea to stop the military defiance. North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan on the night between 28 and 29 August. Mr Soini says the situation is very difficult but parties should still be able to solve it through negotiations and notes that superpowers China, Japan and Russia are in key roles. He points out that it is important to keep in mind that what happens in the Korean peninsula affects the whole world.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat
Date: 29.8.2017
Journalist: Anni Lassila
Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini

Summary:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini believes President Sauli Niinistö’s meeting with his US colleague Donald Trump is a significant recognition of the relationship between the two countries. Mr Soini estimates that the United States wanted to express that the two countries have had lots of practical co-operation in e.g. crisis management operations and that Finland plays a part in ensuring stability in the Baltic Sea region. He says it is worth noting that Mr Trump gave preference to the meeting with Mr Niinistö and parted to inspect the storm damages in Texas later. The minister believes that the US appreciates Finland’s pragmatism when it comes to actions and statements.

Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö was forced to correct a statement about a fighter jet deal made by US President Donald Trump during a press conference after the presidents’ meeting in Washington on 28 August. At the press conference, Mr Trump stated that Finland was buying several F-18 fighter jets and other military equipment from the United States. Directly after the press conference Mr Niinistö posted a message on Twitter stating that the news about the F-18 jets is a canard.

Media:  Iltalehti
Date: 29.8.2017
Journalist: Jari Himanen
Main source: President Sauli Niinistö

Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö told Finnish reporters in Washington on Tuesday that he considered carefully how to best move forward in environmental issues with US President Donald Trump. He decided to discuss only environmental protection in the Arctic, as Finland is the current chair of the Arctic Council and experts are unanimous about the impact of the ice melting in the Arctic. Mr Niinistö says the two presidents also had a lengthy discussion about Russia and that he tried to contribute to even a slight improvement in the relationship between the US and the EU. The president estimates that it was easy to establish dialogue with Mr Trump and is glad that Mr Trump had ensured that the dialogue would continue.

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: