HanaForum: Are Nordic values at stake in the UN?

Venue: Hanasaari Culture Center, Espoo

Time: Friday 13.9. from 13.45 to 16

Language: English

The United Nations General Assembly is about to begin its 68th session. One of the core issues that the General Assembly addresses is the post-2015 development agenda. Finland and other Nordic countries have promoted international peace and security as an essential part of the post-2015 development agenda. They all also strong supporters of Responsibility to Protect concept. Furthermore the Nordic countries are major donors to many UN agencies and play a central role in UN peace-building and mediation operations. However the Nordic countries have not been successful in the recent elections to different central UN bodies, which raise the need to re-evaluate the significance of Nordic co-operation in global politics.

The seminar discusses Nordic co-operation and the possibilities of conducting more coherent UN policy at the EU level. Do the values we Scandinavians promote still receive support even if it doesn’t show in the elections results? Would Sweden have a better chance of being elected to the Security Council in 2016? Are there other ways to increase our influence within the UN system than running for the Security Council? Should we deepen Nordic co-operation even further or should we look for new allies elsewhere?

Moderator: Ms. Meeri-Maria Jaarva, Crisis Management Initiative

13.45 Welcoming words

Mr. Kai Jaskari, Programme Manager, Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre Mr. Ilkka Kantola, Vice-chair, UN Association of Finland
Mr. Ilkka Kantola, Vice-chair, UN Association of Finland

14.00 Strengthening partnerships, increasing Nordic influence in the UN

Minister for Foregn Affairs of Finland Mr. Erkki Tuomioja

14.30 Is the Nordic trademark fading?

Vice-chair of the Committee for Foreign Affairs in the Swedish Parliament, Mr Urban Ahlin

15.00-16.00 Panel discussion

Erkki Tuomioja, Urban Ahlin, H.E: Ambassador of Morocco Mr. Mohammed Ariad, Member of the European Parliament, Ms. Anneli Jäätteenmäki.

You can also watch the seminar online at www.hanaholmen.fi/stream and participate in the discussion on Twitter with the hashtag #hanaforum.

The event is free but requires registration by Sep 9th at: http://www.hanaholmen.fi/en/cultural-center/events-calendar/details/963

Organizers: UN Association of Finland and the Hanasaari – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre.