FINLAND CONDEMNS IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S EXTREMISM

UNCLAS HELSINKI 001163 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PGOV IR FI SUBJECT: FINLAND CONDEMNS IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S EXTREMISM REF: STATE 199225 ¶1. (U) The GOF has roundly condemned Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's October 25 call for Israel to be "wiped off the map." On Oct. 27, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja released a public statement that expressed the GOF's "deep disapproval of the Iranian president's comment;" emphasized that "under no circumstances are threats of violence acceptable;" and lamented the negative impact it will have on relations between Iran and the EU. On Oct. 31, MFA State Secretary (D equivalent) Arto Mansala called in Iranian SIPDIS Ambassador Javad Fini Oct. 31 to deliver an even more strongly worded statement and to demand an explanation. ¶2. (SBU) MFA Regional Manager for the Middle East Leena Pylvanainen told PolChief privately that Mansala's meeting with Fini was brief and somewhat tense. The Iranian, she said, was evasive, limiting himself largely to defending Ahmadi-Nejad's comments and making "no reasonable explanation" or apology for them. She added that the GOF fully agrees with the substance of reftel's talking points and that Mansala delivered an unmistakable message along similar lines. WERDERMAN