FINLAND: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MEETING IN CHILE

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000462 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MEETING IN CHILE REF: A. SECSTATE 66867 ¶B. SECSTATE 71941 ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered Ref A demarche to officials in the MFA's Global Affairs Bureau, noting that Secretary Rice's participation in the Ministerial meeting reflects the importance the U.S. attaches to the Community of Democracies. As of April 20, the MFA was still unsure if any officials from Helsinki would attend the meeting. However, Finland's Ambassador to Chile, Pekka Korvenheimo, and the Political Counselor at the Finnish Embassy in Santiago, Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, have confirmed their attendance. The Global Affairs Bureau did not indicate that there were any specific issues or projects that Finland would put forward during the meeting. ¶2. (U) Although Embassy Helsinki is an info addressee on Ref B, we have shared the concept paper on election standards with the Finns, and encouraged their support, noting the U.S. and Finnish governments shared commitment to promotion of democracy around the world. MACK