ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Finland will reopen its embassy in Baghdad for the first time since 1991 due an increasing Iraqi diaspora in the European country and to increase bilateral cooperation.
"Iraq belongs to the European neighbourhood, and its development will affect Finland, too. Finland has a fairly large Iraqi diaspora community, which means that cooperation between the citizens of the countries and other collaboration are increasing," stated Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini on Thursday.
Following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, Finland has not had diplomatic personnel in Baghdad. They have used a roving ambassador based in Helsinki.
The return of asylum seekers also was taken into consideration.
"The agenda of the discussions on the bilateral relations between Finland and Iraq includes also questions relating to the return of those whose asylum application has been refused," added Soini.
In 2017, a total of 5,059 people applied for asylum in Finland — a slight drop from 5,657. The country has a population of about 5.5 million.
The Finnish ministry did not indicate if it plans to open missions elsewhere in Iraq or in the Kurdistan Region.
Finland has supported Peshmerga in the ISIS conflict through training and advising through the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTCC).
Diplomatic delegations from the Kurdistan Region previously have been welcomed in Helsinki.
"Iraq belongs to the European neighbourhood, and its development will affect Finland, too. Finland has a fairly large Iraqi diaspora community, which means that cooperation between the citizens of the countries and other collaboration are increasing," stated Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini on Thursday.
Following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, Finland has not had diplomatic personnel in Baghdad. They have used a roving ambassador based in Helsinki.
The return of asylum seekers also was taken into consideration.
"The agenda of the discussions on the bilateral relations between Finland and Iraq includes also questions relating to the return of those whose asylum application has been refused," added Soini.
In 2017, a total of 5,059 people applied for asylum in Finland — a slight drop from 5,657. The country has a population of about 5.5 million.
Currently, 14 European Union member states have ambassadors in Baghdad.
The Finnish ministry did not indicate if it plans to open missions elsewhere in Iraq or in the Kurdistan Region.
Finland has supported Peshmerga in the ISIS conflict through training and advising through the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTCC).
Diplomatic delegations from the Kurdistan Region previously have been welcomed in Helsinki.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment