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Visit of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to Finland, 16-17 May 2019
Visit of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to Finland, 16-17 May 2019

Following his visit to Latvia, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited Finland, on 16-17 May 2019, to attend the 129. Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

in his speech at the working dinner on 16 May 2019, Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that the Council of Europe took its strength from its ability to unite our continent around shared values. Minister Çavuşoğlu emphasized that we need a Europe without double standards.

On the same day, Minister Çavuşoğlu met with Secretary General Thomas Greminger of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that OSCE’s agenda was still busy and that Participating States needed to tackle diverse challenges. Minister Çavuşoğlu stressed that we should ensure more efficiency in the OSCE.

After the meeting, Minister Çavuşoğlu met with Foreign Minister Timo Soini of Finland.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that Finland played an important role in Turkey’s EU bid in 1999 and we believed its support to continue during its upcoming European Union Council Presidency.

Minister Çavuşoğlu met also with Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani of Georgia.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that we supported Georgia’s stability and security and the first Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting would be held this year.

Later that day, Minister Çavuşoğlu met also with Foreign Minister Georgios Katrougalos of Greece.

At the meeting all issues between the two countries were discussed in a constructive way.

On 17 May 2019 Minister Çavuşoğlu attended the 129. Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that the Council of Europe needed to avoid new dividing lines in Europe and should prevent politicization of expert mechanisms that only undermines its credibility. Minister Çavuşoğlu emphasized that we must fight together against rising xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, hate speech, and populism.

On the same day, Minister Çavuşoğlu met also with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas of Germany.

Minister Çavuşoğlu stated that the Strategic Dialogue Mechanism meeting between our Ministries and the Intergovernmental Consultations with Germany would be held soon.