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21.5.2025 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(44) Useful phrases for correspondence This collection of useful phrases for correspondence in ...

23.8.2021 | Distinguished Ministers and Heads of Mission, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the 2021 Meeting of Heads of Mission! As you can see from the picture, I am here in the familiar Engel Hall in the newly renovated premises of Merikasarmi. While on the face of it this space may appear to be the same as before, the Ritarikatu Hall, where the panel discussions are being held, is not easily recognisable.

10.10.2022 | The international system would not function without international law. The International Law Commission is one of the UN's oldest special bodies, where a large part of the legal regulation for international relations has been prepared. The Commission's work has been of great importance in promoting the rule of law and justice internationally.

19.4.2022 | The sad news of Minister Ilkka Kanerva’s passing reached the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Thursday, 14 April. Kanerva served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2008.

27.6.2023 | The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its second regular session of this year from 19 June to 14 July. Before each session, as part of Finland’s contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs asks civil society organisations for their views on Finland's priorities and objectives. Many civil society representatives again gathered at Merikasarmi, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

18.8.2021 | The Heads of Finnish Missions abroad will convene for their annual meeting on 23-25 August. The meeting will discuss foreign policy, international relations, the state of the global economy and Finland’s positioning in the post-pandemic world. Due to COVID-19, the Foreign Ministry will hold the meeting virtually in its newly renovated premises in Merikasarmi.

23.8.2023 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Thursday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square and at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

25.9.2023 | Monday 25 September 2023 marks the eighth anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the UN Member States. To honour this day and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Government will fly flags at the Government Place and Merikasarmi. This is part of the global SDG Flag Day celebrations.

22.2.2023 | Friday 24 February marks the one-year anniversary of Russia starting its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish Government will show its support to Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on 24 February.

22.2.2024 | Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on Saturday 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

25.11.2021 | The United Nations has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The day begins an annual international campaign called 16 Days of Activism, which draws attention to this important human rights violation. During the day, well-known buildings around the world will be illuminated in orange – the colour chosen to symbolise the day. This year, the Governm...

3.12.2021 | The Government will organise a festive illumination at Merikasarmi on Finland’s 104th Independence Day. The refurbished and modernised Merikasarmi premises were taken back into use in September.

24.2.2025 | Ukraine and its people have been fighting against Russia’s illegal war of aggression for three years. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The Presid...

22.8.2024 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square in front of the Government Palace and at Martti Ahtisaari Square in the courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

24.2.2022 | The Merikasarmi building of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is lit up on Thursday 24 February in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine.

22.11.2024 | November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as designated by the United Nations (UN). Violence against women is also a significant problem in Finland, and solving this problem is everyone’s responsibility. The Government Palace and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in orange as part of the international campaign.

22.8.2025 | Finland’s state leadership will attend events marking Ukraine’s independence day in Helsinki.

16.1.2026 | The International Press Center (IPC), which has been administered by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, is closing. The reasons for the closure are the center's reduced activity in recent years and the need to allocate resources to other communications activities.

24.11.2025 | The UN’s international Orange the World campaign to end violence against women begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November. This year, the focus of the campaign is on eradicating digital violence against women and girls.

23.12.2020 | VN/16763/2020 Valtioneuvoston kanslian tulostavoitteet vuodelle 2021 2 Sisältö Valtioneuvoston kanslian tulostavoitteet vuodelle 2021 ........................................................................ 1 1. Katsaus toimintaympäristöön ..........