Vanhanen praises US cooperation on climate issue
Prime Minister brushes off Kemijärvi pulp mill questions
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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said in Washington on Monday that his main message to US leaders was to thank the United States for its cooperation at the Bali Climate Conference.
Vanhanen said that he would encourage the USA to give contribute constructively to climate talks in the future. The Prime Minister said that all of his future long-haul travel will be aimed at making preparations for the climate meeting in Copenhagen in 2009.
Vanhanen also briefed his American hosts on Russia's role as an energy producer.
Quizzed by Finnish journalists on domestic issues, Vanhanen sidestepped a question put to him on why he did not try to block a decision by the pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso to close down the mills at Kemijärvi and Hamina, resorting only to expressing regret, and recognising the "rules of the game in the stock market world".
He noted that the state only has a 12 per cent holding in the company.
Vanhanen was not impressed by a proposal made by Centre Party Secretary Jarmo Korhonen to discuss the Kemijärvi closure at a meeting of the party's executive.
He noted that the party's ministerial group and its executive committee have come out unanimously in favour of the government's policy line on the matter.
"We can note this in the party executive too, if there is a need", is what the Prime Minister said.
On Tuesday, Vanhanen is scheduled to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney.
Later in the week Vanhanen travels to California, where he will meet representatives of the technology industry in Silicon Valley. From there he will move on to Seattle, Washington, where he will meet with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Board of Microsoft.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 15.1.2008 - TODAY |
 Vanhanen praises US cooperation on climate issue |
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