Mattarella arrives today on 3-day state visit

Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrives in Helsinki on Tuesday on a three-day state visit from September 26 to September 28, his office sources said.

President Sauli Niinistö and First Lady Jenni Haukio of Finland will accord a reception to the visiting president, who will be accompanied by his daughter Laura Mattarella.

During the visit, President Mattarella will hold separate meetings with President Niinistö, Parliament Speaker Maria Lohela and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, and hold discussions with a number of Finnish teams on political and economic relations between the two countries and security policy and current international issues.

On the first day of the visit, President Mattarella will meet representatives of the Italian community in Finland at the residence of the Italian ambassador to Helsinki.

Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori is also scheduled to accord a reception to the visiting president in the Municipal Palace, said Italian president’s office sources.

On the occasion, President Mattarella will sign the Book of Honour and join a luncheon party hosted by the Helsinki mayor in his honour. Mayor Vapaavuori will also accord President Mattarella with the Honorary Medal of the City of Helsinki.

Mattarella will then visit the Monumental Cemetery of Hietaniemi, where he will be welcomed by Jaegaer Guard Commander Colonel Ahti Kurvinen, for depositing two crowns at the Cross of Heroes and the Monument to Marshal Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim respectively. During the day, Mattarella will also visit the Museum of Design, where he will be welcomed by the museum’s Director Jukka Savolainen.

This will be the fourth sate visit of an Italian president to Finland since 1946. Of the three previous visits, the first was made by President Scalfaro in September 1993, second by President Ciampi in September 1999, and the third by President Napolitano in September 2008. Curiously, it seems September is the preferred month.