FINLAND PERMREP MAKES INTRODUCTORY CALL ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000484 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO S/GWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KWMN FI SUBJECT: FINLAND PERMREP MAKES INTRODUCTORY CALL ON AMBASSADOR RICE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Incoming Finnish Permrep Jarmo Viinanen told Ambassador Rice on May 4 that Finland hoped to build on the success of the March 7-8 high-level international women's colloquium in Liberia by holding a high-level event during the UNGA ministerial week. Viinanen also expressed Finland's support for the U.S. bid for a seat on the Human Rights Council. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Paying a brief introductory call on Ambassador Rice on May 4, the incoming Permanent Representative of Finland, Jarmo Viinanen, said that Finland was pleased with the outcome of the March 7-8, 2009 International Colloquium on Women's Empowerment, Leadership, Development, International Peace and Security in Monrovia, co-sponsored by Liberia and Finland. Viinanen said Finland is involved in planning a follow-up event on the margins of the UNGA Ministerial Week in autumn 2009, and that he expected Finland's President would attend the event. He hoped that the U.S. would also be able to attend at a Ministerial level. Ambassador Rice said she was open to Finland's thoughts on the Ministerial, and that the United States would hope to send a senior representative. ¶3. (SBU) Viinanen said that Finland would support U.S. for a seat on the Human Rights Council, "since if the U.S. is not involved, we cannot speak of true multilateral cooperation." He also welcomed the marked increase in U.S. engagement on a range of UN issues. Referring to his recent arrival, he admitted it was challenging to try to overcome a steep learning curve related to Finland's involvement with UN Specialized Agencies and ECOSOC, while at the same time meeting all of his new colleagues. ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Rice said the U.S. had adopted a new approach to multi-lateral diplomacy, which she hoped would be reflected in all aspects of our engagement, citing the General Assembly, ECOSOC, 3rd and 6th Committees as examples. Rice