STT: Finland to close more embassies
According to the Finnish news agency STT, Finnish embassies threatened with closure are in Europe and elsewhere.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will decide in September on closing embassies next year, said under-secretary of state Peter Stenlund in an STT interview.
Stenlund did not tell which embassies could close, so as not to risk affecting bilateral relations with the affected countries.
Heikki Patomäki, a professor of politics at Helsinki University, says that embassy closures could threaten Finland’s bid for a place on the UN Security Council.
“Those countries where Finland closes embassies could think that Finland will not represent their views in the security council,” Patomäki said.
Finland’s long campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UN’s top table reaches a climax in October. If successful, Finland would have a place on the council for the 2013–2014 term.
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