Finland Times

The ministry on Thursday submitted a new list of ambassadors to the president for confirmation of the appointments.

Pekka Huhtaniemi, who has been serving as the ambassador of Finland to the United Kingdom since 2010, will be replaced by Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Päivi Luostarinen.

Kirsti Kauppi, director general of the Political Department of the ministry, will become the new Finnish ambassador to Washington.

Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Juha Virtanen will take over from Arja Makkonen as the Finnish ambassador to Ukraine. Makkonen has been officiating as the ambassador to Ukraine since autumn of 2011.

Councillor for Foreign Affairs Anne Meskanen will replace Ari Mäki as the ambassador to Afghanistan. Mäki has been the ambassador to Afghanistan for less than two years.

The country’s ambassador to Serbia, Pekka Orpana, will room for Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Pertti Ikonen, while Ritva Koukku-Ronde will join the embassy in Berlin as ambassador.