New Finnish Heads of Mission begin their work in September

14 new Heads of Mission will begin their work in Finnish embassies and consulates general around the world: Nina Vaskunlahti / Ankara; Pasi Tuominen / Budapest; Jukka Siukosaari / Buenos Aires; Matti Pullinen / Kuala Lumpur; Jukka Pietikäinen / New York Consulate General; Charles Murto / Ottawa; Pirjo Tulokas / St. Petersburg Consulate General; Pirkko Hämäläinen / Riga; Marja Aspelund / Shanghai Consulate General; Harri Salmi / Sofia; Matti Heimonen / Seoul; Harri Kämäräinen / Teheran; Jari Vilén / Warsaw; Rauli Suikkanen / Roving Ambassador in Pakistan.

The following Heads of Mission have begun their work earlier this year: Hannu Himanen / Moscow; Anu Saarela / Nicosia; and Päivi Kairamo-Hella / Geneva Permanent Mission.

Annual transfer of Heads of Mission within the Foreign Ministry mainly takes place in the beginning of September. The appointments are decided by the President of the Republic.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish diplomatic missions abroad are promoting Finnish interests and objectives in foreign and defence policy, economic external relations and development policy. The means of influencing include bilateral relations, the EU and multilateral cooperation. The diplomatic missions are in service of the Finns and the entire Finnish society. As for international influence, the status and
coverage of the Finnish network of missions abroad are particularly important. Providing services for citizens, such as various consulate services and passport and visa services, is one of the main tasks in many diplomatic missions.

Further information: Deputy Director General for Personnel Vesa Lehtonen, tel. +358 9 1605 5401