Teemu Sepponen 🇫🇮🇹🇳🇱🇾

Glad to have been part of the excellent discussions between Ministers for Foreign Affairs @elinavaltonen and @MohamedAliNafti in Helsinki on 3 June 2025

عملية إيريني التابعة لقوة الاتحاد الأوروبي البحرية في البحر الأبيض @EUNAVFOR_MED IRINI المتوسط هي المزود الأمني الدائم #للاتحاد_الأوروبي في البحر الأبيض المتوسط، ومساهمة أوروبية أساسية في مسيرة #ليبيا نحو الوحدة والاستقرار والمؤسسات السيادية. إنها تضطلع بدور استراتيجي في رصد التحديات الأمنية ومواجهتها، ودعم القانون البحري الدولي، والتصدي للتهديدات الهجينة، بما في ذلك التهديدات التي تستهدف البنية التحتية الحيوية. استضاف قائد العملية، الأدميرال كاسابيري، سفراء الدول الأعضاء في الاتحاد الأوروبي، ونائبة الممثل الخاص للأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، السيدة أولريكا رتشاردسون @UlrikaR_UN، ورئيس بعثة الاتحاد الأوروبي للمساعدة الحدودية في ليبيا @EUBAMLibya، السيد فريدريك بيترسن، وشركاء ذوي رؤى متقاربة في مقر العمليات بروما. ناقشنا دور عملية إيريني في السياق الإقليمي والدولي المتغير، وإمكاناتها في تعزيز الدعم المقدم للسلطات البحرية الليبية في جميع أنحاء البلاد من خلال التدريب وبناء القدرات وتعزيز التعاون.

Ambassador Teemu Sepponen hosted @KarmenSakhr , Chief of Mission of @UNHCRLibya , for a meeting at the Embassy in Tunis. The discussion highlighted the importance of continued support for work with Libya. Sustained engagement the right way to respond to growing needs

Finland’s new country brand strategy presents Finland as a country that enables people to lead a good life in a well-organised society. Our happiness is built on trust, equality, freedom and a society that works. Finland makes happiness happen!

In the past days, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been hit by Iranian missile and drone strikes. Finland strongly condemns Iran’s attacks on the states in the region and stands in solidarity with the countries unwillingly affected by Iran’s military actions.

The situation in the Middle East continues to spiral. Finland condemns Iran’s unjustifiable and indiscriminate strikes on the countries in the region. Even those who were working towards a diplomatic solution are now being targeted. The strikes must stop. Civilian lives must be protected across the region.

As the fifth year of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is about to begin, we reaffirm that Finland stands with the Ukrainian people – for as long as it takes. @FinGovernment 🇫🇮 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine

Cela fait 4 ans que l’Ukraine est attaquée par la Russie. Depuis, elle fait preuve de courage et résistance dans son combat. 🇺🇦 n’est pas seule, 🇪🇺et ses états membres sont toujours à ses côtés pour mettre fin à la guerre et parvenir à une paix juste et durable #StandWithUkraine

Congratulations @VycitalJan for effective and impactful work that has benefitted both 🇱🇾 and 🇪🇺. The Mission has a great basis to continue the important work

🔵 Statement by the Delegation of the European Union and the Diplomatic Missions of EU Member States to Libya on the launch of the Structured Dialogue. 🔗 Read the statement: link.europa.eu/TPvrjn

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomes the completion of voting yesterday in nine municipalities. According to the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), polling operations were conducted in a generally calm and orderly environment with an estimated preliminary voter turnout of 69 percent, reflecting continued public engagement in electoral processes.   UNSMIL commends the work of local authorities, security and HNEC teams to enable the holding of these elections, as well as the observers, agents and media in safeguarding the electoral process.  UNSMIL urges all relevant actors to continue to support the High National Elections Commission to carry out its remaining work, including ensuring the secure transfer, tabulation, and verification of result forms at the tally center. The Mission emphasizes the importance of respecting the integrity of the electoral process, and utilizing established legal mechanisms to resolve any potential electoral disputes.   UNSMIL reiterates its full support for Libyan-led efforts to advance inclusive, credible, and transparent electoral processes.

🟧 Online or offline, violence against women and girls can and must be stopped — #NoExcuse. The #EU Delegation and embassies of EU Member States to #Libya are proud to add our voice to those of Libyan citizens and institutions in the yearly “16 days of activism” campaign against all forms of violence against women and girls. Our special message this year is about online intimidation, harassment and violence: what happens online does not stay online. We affirm a simple truth: online or offline, violence against women and girls is not inevitable and it is never acceptable. #16days #OrangeTheWorld #ENDVAW

Today, UNSMIL together with the African Union, European Union and League of Arab States co-chaired a meeting in Tripoli of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya (IFC-L) of the Berlin Process where they discussed the first two milestones of the UNSMIL-facilitated political Roadmap: the reconstitution of the HNEC Board of Commissioners and the amendments of the constitutional and legislative framework for holding national elections. Representatives of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State briefed on their work on these two milestones noting that there has been progress in discussions on the reconstitution of the HNEC Board and they should be able to complete this task soon. They called on UNSMIL to further support in bringing the Libyan parties together to complete these tasks. The members of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State were strongly urged to complete these tasks as quickly as possible as three months have passed since the political Roadmap was announced to the UN Security Council and the Libyan people are waiting for progress. The discussions also extended to UNSMIL’s preparations for the Structured Dialogue which will be launched in the coming weeks, including ways in which the members of the IFC-L and Berlin Process Working Groups could contribute to its implementation. The following members of the IFC-L attended the plenary meeting either in person or virtually: Algeria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the United States of America as well as the African Union, European Union and League of Arab States.

It’s always a pleasure to have discussions with @vonderleyen. We discussed Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Russia poses a threat to Europe and has been testing the EU’s unity and resolve. We need to strengthen our societies and capabilities, but also keep cool heads. Acting united, we can do this. It is now time to focus on increasing the pressure on Russia via 1) sanctions and 2) further support to Ukraine.

Good to see President @alexstubb again. Finland is a highly valued Ally – your membership in NATO strengthens our deterrence and defence & your expertise in the High North is crucial Thank you for your contributions – including in support of Ukraine – and steadfast commitment to our shared security

Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent airspace violations by Russia Tap the image to read the full statement ↓

The North Atlantic Council met this morning and strongly condemned Russia’s dangerous violation of Estonian airspace on Friday. Our posture – on land, at sea and in the air – is serving us well. NATO stands ready & willing to defend every inch of Allied territory.

I have today decided that Finland will join the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, prepared by France and Saudi Arabia. The process led by France and Saudi Arabia is the most significant international effort in years to create the conditions for a two-state solution. It is consistent with Finland’s Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy, which was unanimously adopted by Parliament. A significant share of Finland’s peer countries have also joined, or are in the process of joining, the Declaration. The aim of the Declaration is to build broad support for measures to end the war in Gaza and to implement the two-state solution. The objectives can be summarised as follows: the removal of Hamas from Palestinian governance and the disarmament of Hamas; guaranteeing the security of Israelis and Palestinians; ending hostilities; and normalising relations among the countries of the region. The Declaration sets out reforms required of the Palestinian Authority and a pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and democracy. The goal is to launch direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to achieve a sustainable solution. The Declaration is historic. This is the first time that Arab countries, on this scale, have committed to Israel’s security and have demanded the disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of authority in Gaza. Among the signatories is the Arab League, representing 22 Arab states. The Declaration condemns both Hamas’s attack of 7 October 2023 and Israeli attacks against civilians, which have led to a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The Declaration requires the release of all hostages and a return to a ceasefire. Additional humanitarian aid must be delivered to Gaza without delay, and no obstacles should be placed in the way of humanitarian access. UNRWA’s tasks are to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority after a peace settlement. Israel must withdraw from Gaza. Gaza’s reconstruction would be launched in accordance with the Arab states’ reconstruction plan. An international stabilization mission would be established in Gaza, mandated, among other things, to support the transfer of responsibility for internal security to the Palestinian Authority, to provide security guarantees for both Israel and Palestine, and to monitor the ceasefire. The document is extensive and the path to its implementation is long. Without even trying, the path is endless. This is the most serious attempt by the international community in years to resolve the Middle East conflict. It is important that Finland supports it.

Joint Statement by the Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight and Ukraine presidentti.fi/en/joint-state…

Tasavallan presidentti @alexstubb antoi suurlähettiläille vahvat toimintaohjeet. Suomi voi kasvattaa vaikutusvaltaansa diplomatialla, jota tehdään nyt eri tavoin kuin ennen. Peliä täytyy pelata uudella tavalla. Muutos vaikuttaa pysyvältä.

Foreign Minister @elinavaltonen started off the high-level segment of the annual ambassadors’ meeting in Finland with a positive message to all on Finland’s many strengths and partnerships