Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto will embark on a two-day official visit to Kenya’s capital Nairobi from Thursday April 6 to Friday April 7, 2023.
This was revealed by the Finish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released on Wednesday April 5, 2023.
While the Kenya, Haavisto will meet Kenya’s Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Alfred Mutua, leaders of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other international organisations, and representatives of civil society.
Among the topics of the meetings are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bilateral relations between Finland and Kenya and regional questions in the Horn of Africa, such as peace and security, youth-inclusive peace processes, and environmental and climate matters.
Foreign Minister Haavisto will meet Kenya’s Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua on 6 April and the two ministers will discuss bilateral relations between Finland and Kenya, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland’s NATO membership, peace mediation, and climate policy.
In addition, Haavisto will meet leaders of international organisations and UN agencies.
“Kenya safeguards peace and stability in East Africa. It is strongly involved in conflict negotiations in the Horn of Africa and in the Great Lakes region. Finland and the EU support these aspirations,” Foreign Minister Haavisto said.
“Kenya plays a significant role in both the UN and the African Union. It is important that we continue to work together to put an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The good bilateral relations between Kenya and Finland make it possible to collaborate in many different fields.”
At Kenya’s request, Finland is supporting Kenya in preparing and implementing its national action plan on Youth, Peace and Security. The UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security is an impressive achievement in recognising the positive and active role of young people in preventing and resolving conflicts and in sustaining peace.
Foreign Minister Haavisto will discuss the action plan with Kenya’s Minister for Youth Affairs Ababu Namwamba and meet members of the Kenya 2250 Coalition.
“The resolution on Youth, Peace and Security recognises the positive and active role of young people in preventing and resolving conflicts, in building peace and preventing violent extremism. We must consider the needs and perspectives of young people and increase their participation in decision-making and at all stages of peace processes,” Haavisto says.
In Nairobi, Haavisto will also meet leaders of the UN Headquarters and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Finland supports UNEP and is planning to launch a collaboration to survey environmental damage in Ukraine and to build environmental administration structures in Somalia.
Foreign Minister Haavisto’s visit to Nairobi is a continuation on political consultations between Finland and Kenya concerning their common interests and cooperation initiatives. The consultations were held in Helsinki on 23 March.
