Finland resumes embassy in Iraq

Finland has decided to reopen its embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. Finnish embassy in Iraq was closed in 1991.

Foreign Minister Timo Soini told national broadcaster Yle that contacts between Iraq and Finland are growing. There is also a large Iraqi expatriate community in Finland.

Soini added that issues related to the repatriation of rejected asylum seekers "are on the bilateral agenda".

The reopening of the embassy was confirmed by the cabinet in its budget talks this week.

Since 2016, Paivi Laine has been the roving Finnish ambassador to Iraq working in Helsinki. She has visited Iraq once a month.