President Halonen begins four-day official visit to France

EU matters and biotechnology two main focuses of visit

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President Tarja Halonen arrived in Paris on Monday for a four-day visit to France, her first official visit as President of Finland. She is to meet with President Jacques Chirac, the French Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Cohesion Jean-Louis Borloo, the Senate President Christian Poncelet, and the Mayor of Lille Martine Aubry. She will be accompanied by her husband Dr. Pentti Arajärvi and the visiting party also includes the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki (Centre).
      Halonen's discussions over lunch with Jacques Chirac today are expected to include the ratification of the new EU Constitution, the development of the common European defence programme, relations with Russia, and international issues such as the Middle East.
      Later in the day, Halonen is to deliver a speech at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). The subject of her address is the future of Europe from the Finnish perspective.
     
On Wednesday, Halonen is to spend the day with Martine Aubry in the northern city of Lille. Aubry was Minister of Employment and Solidarity (1997-2000) in the former government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, and she is among the most influential of opposition Socialist Party politicians in France.
      Halonen's programme in Lille will include a visit to Eurasanté, a large health & biotech pole, which features numerous companies, hospitals, and research institutes.
     
Halonen will attend a performance of Verdi's Otello at the Opéra National in Paris on Wednesday evening, in which the role of Desdemona is taken by Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski.
      Today, March 1st, marks up five years of Tarja Halonen's six-year presidential term. Though she has visited France on several occasions during her term of office, this is her first official visit as head of state.


Links:
  President of the Republic of Finland
  French Government portal
  Eurasanté
  Opéra National de Paris: Otello

Helsingin Sanomat