President of Tanzania to pay working visit to Finland

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press Release 7 February 2008

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania will arrive in Finland for a working visit on 11-13 February 2008.

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen will receive President Kikwete on Tuesday, 12 February at the Presidential Palace, where official talks and a working dinner will be held.

Tanzania assumed the chairmanship of the African Union at the beginning of February, and the two Presidents will discuss African regional issues such as the situations in Somalia, Sudan and Chad. Finland is preparing to participate in the European Union's crisis management operation in Chad, and Finnish police personnel are assisting in the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping operation in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Tanzania is one of Finland's long-term development cooperation partners and along with Finland helped launch the Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy.

During his visit President Kikwete will also meet with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen as well as Tanzanians who are living in Finland.

Helsinki Process

African Union