President Halonen to make May state visit to Germany

Meeting with European presidents in Latvia this week

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According to a statement issued by the Office of the President of the Republic on Tuesday, President Tarja Halonen and her spouse Dr Pentti Arajärvi are to make a state visit to Germany from May 2nd to 5th.
      In Berlin, President Halonen will meet Federal President Horst Köhler, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, and other political leaders.
     
The programme will also include a lecture at the German Council on Foreign Relations and a visit to Munich, where President Halonen will meet Edmund Stoiber, the Prime Minister of Bavaria.
      A delegation of Finnish innovation and education experts as well as business leaders will be accompanying the President, and a Finnish-German innovation seminar will be arranged during the visit.
     
Since yesterday, the Finnish Head of State and her spouse have been visiting Latvia for an informal meeting of the presidents of eight European countries.
      The gathering in Riga from April 10th to 11th is being hosted by President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia, and is also attended by Presidents Horst Köhler of Germany, Giorgio Napolitano of Italy, Heinz Fischer of Austria, Anibal Cavaco Silva of Portugal, Lech Kaczynski of Poland, and László Sólyom of Hungary.
      The presidents are discussing the future of Europe and the external relations of the EU, as well as issues relating to the protection of the environment, the use of energy resources, and economic development.


Links:
  The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

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