Finnish FM Meets with Muslim Youths
They met with Foreign Minister and Finns Party leader Timo Soini at the House of the Estates in Helsinki.
During the three-hour meeting organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussions were held on the situation in the Middle East and Finland's foreign policy.
The meeting, first conceived in spring, was a success according to the Ministry.
"All in all the meet-up fulfilled its purpose. The conversations were open and honest," Pekka Metso, ambassador to intercultural dialogue at the Ministry said.
The House of the Estates in central Helsinki, where a group of Finnish Muslims met with ministers and Finns Party chair Soini on Friday.
Foreign Minister Soini gave an opening speech and stayed at the event for about half an hour. The young Muslims continued their discussions for the rest of the meeting with other experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We wanted to give them a clear picture of Finnish foreign policy. The Muslim youths themselves said they hope that Finland's role as a mediator for peace will be upheld in future, too," Metso said. "It was great to see both Shia and Sunni Muslims at the gathering, they had all thought out a joint approach to the meeting."
Metso said that young Muslims seem to see Finland as an ultimately open and conciliatory foreign policy-maker, and calls the meeting a show of respect between Soini and the Muslims in attendance.
The youths refrained from commenting on the meeting on site at the House of the Estates, as did minister Soini.
Source: Yle
