Finland to recognise Palestine state ´at some point´: Stubb

President Alexander Stubb on Monday said that Finland would recognise Palestine as a state at some point in the future.

Stubb made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis in Tallinn on the first day of his three-day visit to Estonia.

He also said that Finland supports neither Israel nor Palestine but supports the peace process and a two-state solution.

The President said that Finland has not recognised the state of Palestine yet, but the recognition will be announced at some stage.

On May 22, Norway, Ireland and Spain announced that they would officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Earlier on the day, the President and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb started a three-day state visit to Estonia.

President of Estonia Alar Karis and First Lady Sirje Karis greeted the Finnish President couple with a ceremonial welcome at the Freedom Square in Tallinn, where the programme also includeed a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to the Estonian War of Independence.

A public crowd had gathered at the square to follow the event.

The Presidents held formal discussions at the Estonian President’s residence Kadriorg Palace. The topics of discussion included bilateral issues, Ukraine as well as NATO and EU cooperation.

At the Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament, Stubb met with Lauri Hussar, President of the Riigikogu, and gave a speech on relations between Finland and Estonia.

The programme also included a meeting with Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas and Mayor of Tallinn Jevgeni Ossinovsky.

The President is scheduled to visit the Rakett69 Science Studios and meet schoolchildren there on Tuesday.

After that, he will visit the Miinisadam Naval Base in Tallinn and take part in a discussion on critical subsea infrastructure and energy cooperation.

The second day of the visit will also include a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to Estonian volunteers who fought for Finland during the Finnish Winter and Continuation Wars, and a visit to the Tallinn TV Tower.

In the afternoon, the Presidents and their spouses will travel to Tartu, where they will be welcomed by Mayor Urmas Klaas.

In the evening, Stubb and Innes-Stubb will be given a reception at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu.

On Wednesday, the program will continue with a visit to the Delta Centre of the University of Tartu, followed by a transfer to the main building of the University of Tartu, where Stubb will give a speech and talk with students.

During the state visit, President Stubb will be accompanied by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces General Janne Jaakkola, and Chair of the Finnish-Estonian parliamentary group of the Finnish Parliament, Mikko Savola.