FINLAND'S ATTENDANCE AT THE OSLO DONOR'S

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000383

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND'S ATTENDANCE AT THE OSLO DONOR'S
CONFERENCE ON SUDAN

REF: SECSTATE 56724


1. On March 31, Ambassador Mack delivered the reftel talking
points to Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Paula
Lehtomaki, requesting high-level Finnish attendance and
commensurate pledges at the Oslo Donor's Conference on Sudan
on April 11-12. Minister Lehtomaki was noticeably impressed
to hear that Deputy Secretary Zoellick would attend, but
noted that neither she nor Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja
would be available to participate in the conference due to
prior travel commitments. (Minister Lehtomaki will be in Los
Angeles.) Lehtomaki added that she would ensure high-level
Finnish representation, perhaps Under Secretary of State for
Development Policy Pertti Majanen.


2. Post also delivered the talking points to the Humanitarian
Assistance and the Eastern and Western Africa units of the
MFA and learned that Mr. Aapo Polho, Director General for the
Department of Africa and the Middle East plans to attend the
conference. While the Finns intend to donate funds, they have
not yet determined how much they will pledge. They expressed
strong support for the conference and pointed to the
increasingly urgent need for humanitarian assistance in
southern Sudan in addition to Darfur.
MACK