Finland Times

 

File picture of Pekka Haavisto. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja has appointed former minister and Green League lawmaker Pekka Haavisto to serve as his Special Representative to African crisis areas, said an official press release.

 

Haavisto continues in the position he held prior to his ministerial period. Haavisto's activities for their part strengthen Finland's contribution to international mediation and crisis prevention, which are also mentioned in the Government Programme.

 

Haavisto's mandate as Special Representative involves in particular the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. He will handle his tasks as Special Representative alongside his work as a Member of Parliament.

 

He has a long international experience and familiarization with the situation and actors in the area. He has previously served, among others, as EU Special Representative for Sudan, as a UN advisor in various peace processes, twice as Minister for International Development and as co-chair of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding.

 

Haavisto participates in the Fifth High-Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa organized by the African Union and held in Arusha, Tanzania on 21-23 October. He will chair one session of the event.

 

Another special representative is Kimmo Kiljunen, who is the Foreign Minister's Special Representative for Mediation.