https://arab.news/6yhbz
- Immediate access to humanitarian aid is 鈥榗ruicial,鈥� Pekka Puustinen tells Arab News
- Calls for Russia to be 鈥榮topped鈥� in its illegal attack on Ukraine
RIYADH: Pekka Puustinen, undersecretary of state internal and external affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, visited 萝莉视频 for the first time on Sunday, and discussed Finland鈥檚 foreign policy regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.
In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the annual ambassadors鈥� meeting, Puustinen addressed the need for humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
鈥淚mmediate access to humanitarian aid to Gaza is crucial,鈥� he said.
On the Israeli-Hamas war, he said: 鈥淭he Finnish stance is very clear. We are for an immediate ceasefire, finishing off the hostilities, immediate release of all the hostages, on both sides. And then this two-state solution, which is not easy to achieve, but the trust must be restored in the region.鈥�
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Puustinen said that 鈥淩ussia should be stopped.鈥�
He said: 鈥淭he illegal Russian attack against Ukraine is actually a blatant, breach of all the international confidence and international agreements.
鈥淲e are very concerned about that 鈥� Russia should be stopped. They should withdraw from Ukrainian soil, and everything should be done (so) that this won鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚f Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, they will continue elsewhere.鈥�
Puustinen also discussed Saudi-Finnish ties, saying that cooperation is 鈥済rowing fast.鈥�
鈥淲e enjoy a really good relationship nowadays, and we are very happy with the societal opening up of your country as well,鈥� he said.
The Finnish official highlighted that there is a common interest between the two countries in the fields of industrial production, new technologies, energy, mining, and green advances.
Puustinen said he would like to see cooperation grow, with greater investment on both sides.
鈥淲e would like to see, of course, increased investments in both directions.
鈥淭hese large projects under the Vision 2030, in your country, really offer ample opportunities for Finnish companies because of the know-how we can offer.
鈥淚鈥檓 predicting a lot of increase (in trade). In the latest figures I have on trade between the two countries, there was an increase of more than 10 percent last year. It鈥檚 a huge increase. And if it continues, it鈥檚 very welcome news for all of us.鈥�
Puustinen said that Finnish companies are leaders in investment in infrastructure, mining, energy efficiency, and trade, including paper export.
鈥淔inland is one of the leading countries in providing solutions, durable or sustainable solutions,鈥� he said.
He also highlighted that Finland, similar to 萝莉视频, has a focus on environmental protection.
Puustinen commended 萝莉视频 on its selection to host Expo 2030.
鈥淚 want to commend the 萝莉视频n government because you won the bid to become the host of Expo 2030. So it鈥檚 rather symbolic to be hosting that in the same year (Vision 2030).
鈥淎nd, actually, it鈥檚 2030 when the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations should also be achieved. So, it鈥檚 very symbolic,鈥� he said.