Minister Stubb to attend the meeting of Northern Dimension foreign ministers
A meeting of Northern Dimension foreign ministers will be held in St Petersburg on 28 October. Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will represent Finland at the meeting. In addition, he will deliver an address at the Graduate School of Management. In line with the principle of reciprocal hosting, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation are organising the meeting, in cooperation with the City of St Petersburg.
The Northern Dimension themes directly concern the region’s citizens. Solution of environmental problems, social welfare and health issues and transport questions affect everyone’s life.
The Northern Dimension is a joint policy of the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Russian Federation which, at the practical level, operates through partnerships.
Establishment of the Northern Dimension Transport and Logistics Partnership will be decided at the meeting in St Petersburg. Finland has vigorously promoted preparation of the partnership. In Finland’s view, the partnership would be a beneficial forum for developing transport and logistics in the Baltic Sea region.
The Northern Dimension Cultural Partnership is a project prepared by the Nordic Council of Ministers that aims to advance the production of culture in Northern regions and to further cooperation among actors in the sector of culture. The meeting in St Petersburg will appoint a working group to investigate possibilities for implementing the Northern Dimension Cultural Partnership.
The Northern Dimension already encompasses two partnerships, the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership and the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-Being. The St Petersburg South West Wastewater Treatment Plant has been the most significant single project of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership. The sewage collector under preparation supplements the coverage of the wastewater treatment plant. Projects to combat HIV/AIDS in Finland’s neighbouring area, in North West Russia, have been carried out within the scope of the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-Being.
Additional information: Juha Kirstilä, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5012, First Secretary Kalle Kankaanpää, mobile tel. +358 40 753 9361, Mikko Hautala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5332