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Finnish Foreign Minister to Meet US Secretary of State

Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva is to visit the United States in three weeks. Kanerva said in an interview programme on YLE-TV 1 on Saturday morning that he would meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington June 11.

Kanerva said that he expects the policy programme of the new Finnish government to come up during the meeting, as well as its aims at European and transatlantic cooperation, and bilateral ties between Finland and the United States.

President Tarja Halonen, who has concluded her visit to the United States, did not meet with the country's political leaders. Foreign Minister Kanerva said that while he is in Washington, he will take up the issue of possible meetings of the Finnish President and Prime Minister with US leaders.

Kanerva said that it is in the interests of all Finns if the entire state leadership of Finland can exchange opinions with the leaders of the United States.

Sources: YLE