MFA: Ambassadors to meet virtually this year

The programme also includes topical speeches by Government leaders and confidential discussions with the Ambassadors. The speakers addressing the Ambassadors virtually include President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist and Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen. Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen will chair and open the meeting.

“The first-ever virtual annual meeting of Heads of Mission shows that the Foreign Service is able to adapt to new situations. With the coronavirus situation hampering travel, the importance of Finland’s missions abroad has grown further. I look forward to the discussions,” says Permanent State Secretary Anttonen.

Public speeches held at the meeting will be streamed live. The webcast will be available on the  Foreign Ministry’s website  and YouTube channel. Video recordings and speeches will be available afterwards on the Foreign Ministry’s website at http://um.fi/.

The meeting can be followed on Twitter using hashtag #SLSK2020.

Photographs of the meeting will be available on the Foreign Ministry’s Flickr account.

Monday, 24 August
9.00–9.30	Opening address by Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen
9.30–10.00	Speech by Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari
10.45–11.00	Speech by Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist
11.30–12.00	Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
Tuesday, 25 August
11.00–11.15	Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö
15.00–15.15	Speech by Prime Minister Sanna Marin
15.30–15.45	Speech by Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen

Inquiries:
General inquiries about the meeting: Adviser to the Under-Secretary of State Salla Romakkaniemi, tel. +358 50 471 2783

Media arrangements: Communications Officer Miia Vihola, tel. +358 40 590 8741

Requests for interviews with Ambassadors: Sofia Dahlskog, tel. +358 50 343 0951

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.