According to Elina Valtonen, individual decisions do not change Finland’s foreign policy line.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (kok) met with the Finnish media in New York during the week of the UN General Assembly and stressed that Finland’s foreign and security policy is unchanged despite the actions of individual ministers.
With his comment, Valtonen took a stand on the decision of Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavion (ps) to leave Finland out of the equality coalition related to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
According to Valtonen, Finland’s foreign policy line is “crystal clear”, and Tavio’s single decision will not change it.
The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, who will deliver the national speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday evening, said earlier this week that he did not know about Tavio’s decision.
According to Foreign Minister Valtonen, Finland’s international commitments are “not just words, but concrete projects in which we are involved”.
– Minister Tavion’s plot has many things that specifically support the rights of gender and sexual minorities and the rights of women and girls.
– It’s not like a single project in which we are not involved would throw our value base into the scrap heap.
According to Valtonen, the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the tp-utva formed by the president of the republic and key ministers.
The status of Palestine
Valtonen also said that Finland will recognize the state of Palestine, but did not say when.
In the spring, several countries, including Norway and Ireland and Spain, said they would recognize Palestine. Of the Nordic countries, only Finland and Denmark have not yet recognized Palestine.
– Unfortunately, that decision has not led to anything better, Valtonen said.
– The Finnish line is a two-state model. We are looking for the right moment when the recognition will be made, the minister added.
According to Valtonen, the most important thing is to first get a cease-fire in Gaza and the wider escalation to end. According to him, the prevailing situation radicalizes people even in “moderate Arab countries”.
– This needs to be resolved, and we are trying to make steps towards it here.
Iltalehti followed Valtonen’s event live in text form.
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