Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York
The high-level meetings of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) will start in New York on 24 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with their counterparts and with representatives of the UN.
Events during the high-level week include the Summit of the Future, held on 22 and 23 September, which aims to bring together the discussions initiated by Secretary-General Guterres in 2021 on strengthening the UN and enhancing multilateral cooperation.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its global impacts will continue to be on the agenda this year. The situation in the Middle East is also expected to feature prominently in the discussions. The high-level week is an opportunity to emphasise the significance of multilateral processes and international rules-based cooperation in solving global challenges.
High-level meetings on other themes will also be held during the week. These meetings include topics such as threats posed by sea level rise and health threats caused by antimicrobial resistance.
Finland’s delegation will be led by President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, who will deliver Finland’s statement in the general debate on Wednesday 25 September. Other members of the delegation include Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio and Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
Dialogue with global partners central in ministers’ meeting programmes
Minister Valtonen’s meetings will focus on topical foreign policy challenges. The topics of these meetings centre especially on the global effects of Russia’s attack and on supporting Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the promotion of human rights and equality, peace mediation and the reinvigoration of multilateral cooperation in the current challenging global situation. Minister Valtonen will also have several bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of other countries.
Minister Tavio’s programme during the high-level week will focus on the advancement of the rights of women and girls, the promotion of education and digitalisation, bearing in mind Finnish solutions, and the role of the private sector. He will also have bilateral meetings with ministers of other countries and with leaders of UN specialised agencies. Minister Tavio’s programme will also include meetings that promote Finland’s commercial and economic interests.
Finland’s activities in the UN are based on defending the rules-based international system and on strengthening multilateral cooperation. Finland’s central priorities in its UN policy include the promotion of peace and security, democracy, human rights, rule of law and sustainable development. In addition, Finland defends the rights of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. The UN high-level week offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen cooperative relations, to engage in dialogue and to highlight themes that are important for Finland.
Inquiries
Programme of the Minister for Foreign Affairs:
Miia Rainne, Director, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 6745
Matias Pajula, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 350 571
Programme of the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development:
Satu Lassila, Director, Unit for UN Development Issues, tel. +358 295 350 022
Tuomas Tähti, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 295 350 199
The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format [email protected].