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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in the US
Ambassador: Pekka LINTU
Embassy: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: 202-298-5800
Fax: 202-298-6030

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Bruce J. Oreck
Embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14, Helsinki 00140, Finland
Telephone: 358-9-616-250


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Finland
Embassy of Finland in Washington, USA
U.S Embassy Web Site in Finland


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the Continuation War with the U.S.S.R. in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the U.S.S.R. and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995.

Relations With the Soviet Union and With Russia
The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."

Finland and the U.S.S.R. signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the Soviet Union of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territory along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the U.S.S.R. for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.

The 1947 treaty also called for Finland to pay to the Soviet Union reparations of 300 million gold dollars (amounting to an estimated $570 million in 1952, the year the payments ended). Although an ally of the Soviet Union in World War II, the United States was not a signatory to this treaty because it had not been at war with Finland.

In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated--with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary--to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the U.S.S.R. through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.

The Finns responded cautiously in 1990-91 to the decline of Soviet power and the U.S.S.R.'s subsequent dissolution. They unilaterally abrogated restrictions imposed by the 1947 and 1948 treaties, joined in voicing Nordic concern over the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and gave increasing unofficial encouragement to Baltic independence.

At the same time, by replacing the Soviet-Finnish mutual assistance pact with treaties on general cooperation and trade, Finns put themselves on an equal footing while retaining a friendly bilateral relationship. Finland now is boosting cross-border commercial ties and touting its potential as a commercial gateway to Russia. It has reassured Russia that it will not raise claims for Finnish territory seized by the U.S.S.R. and continues to reaffirm the importance of good bilateral relations.

Multilateral Relations
Finnish foreign policy emphasizes its participation in multilateral organizations. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the EU in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. As a NATO partner, Finland had 178 military troops and 39 civil crisis management experts in Afghanistan as of November 2010, serving with a Swedish-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province of Mazar-e-Sharif and working to create a secure environment for reconstruction in northern Afghanistan.

Finland is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialized and related agencies. Finnish troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Finland chaired the OSCE in 2008 and was part of the Chairmanship Troika in 2009.

Cooperation with the other Scandinavian countries also is important to Finland, and it has been a member of the Nordic Council since 1955. Under the council's auspices, the Nordic countries have created a common labor market and have abolished immigration controls among themselves. The council also serves to coordinate social and cultural policies of the participating countries and has promoted increased cooperation in many fields.

In addition to the organizations already mentioned, Finland became a member of the following organizations: Bank for International Settlements, 1930; International Monetary Fund, 1948; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1948; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1950; International Finance Corporation, 1956; International Development Association, 1960; European Free Trade Association, 1961; Asian Development Bank, 1966; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1969; Inter-American Development Bank, 1977; African Development Bank, 1982; Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 1988; the Council of Europe, 1989; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Central and Eastern Europe, 1991; World Trade Organization, 1995; and INTELSAT, 1999. Finland entered Stage Three of EMU (the European Monetary Union) in 1999. All the Nordic countries, including Finland, joined the Schengen area in March 2001.

U.S.-FINLAND RELATIONS
Relations between the United States and Finland are warm. Some 200,000 U.S. citizens visit Finland annually, and about 5,000 U.S. citizens are resident there. The United States has an educational exchange program in Finland which is comparatively large for a west European country of Finland's size. It is financed in part from a trust fund established in 1976 from Finland's final repayment of a U.S. loan made in the aftermath of World War I.

Finland is bordered on the east by Russia and, as one of the former Soviet Union's neighbors, has been of particular interest and importance to the United States both during the Cold War and in its aftermath. Before the U.S.S.R. dissolved in 1991, longstanding U.S. policy was to support Finnish neutrality while maintaining and reinforcing Finland's historic, cultural, and economic ties with the West. The United States has welcomed Finland's increased participation since 1991 in Western economic and political structures. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Finland has moved steadily toward integration into Western institutions.

In 1994, Finland joined NATO's Partnership for Peace; the country also is an observer in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Finland became a full member of the EU in January 1995, at the same time acquiring observer status in the Western European Union.

Finland welcomes foreign investment. Areas of particular interest for U.S. investors are specialized high-tech companies and investments that take advantage of Finland's position as a gateway to Russia and the Baltic countries.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Bruce J. Oreck
Deputy Chief of Mission--Michael A. Butler
Public Affairs Counselor--Nicole Conn
Political-Economic Section Chief--Scott Brandon
Labor Attaché (Pol)--Lisa Conesa
Management Counselor--Russell W. Jones

The U.S. Embassy in Finland is located at Itainen Puistotie 14, Helsinki 00140; tel: 358-9-616-250; fax: 358-9-174-681.


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Finland check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (EUR) Euro
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 358, City Code Turku Ja Pori 2+7D, Hame 3+7D, Kymi 5+7D, Vaasa 6+7D



Climate and clothing: Helsinki's winter climate is similar to Boston's; summer temperatures rarely exceed 24 deg. C. Northern Finland and parts of interior southern Finland sometimes experience Arctic conditions in mid-winter. Sweaters and raincoats are recommended for other seasons.

Health: Public health standards are similar to those in the United States. Tapwater is potable. Medical facilities are good.

Telecommunications: Telephone and telegraph services are efficient and available to most parts of Finland and the world. Helsinki is seven time zones ahead of eastern standard time.

Transportation: Bus and taxi service is available in most cities as well as tram and subway service in Helsinki. Both FinnAir and American carriers fly to the United States daily. Flights to many European cities depart Helsinki daily. Finland's domestic air network is one of the best in Europe. The country also has efficient rail and long- distance bus service. Roads are well maintained; nearly all major highways ,and most important secondary roads are paved.

Tourist attractions: With many islands and lakes, evergreen forests, and granite outcroppings, Finland's countryside is striking. Many tourists enjoy cruises on stately historic steamers that travel on Finland's biggest lake, Saimaa. Lapland, with its flora and reindeer, also is popular.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Currency...No restrictions

Cameras....No restriction

Film.......Reasonable for personal us

Agriculture items...Refer to consulate

Gifts......No duty free allowance

Passengers aged 17 and over without incurring customs duty (figures in bracket refer to purchases from duty-free shops at airports or ports in the EU:


Tobacco....300 (200) cigarettes or 150 (100) cigars or 400 (250) grams of tobacco

Perfume....50 grams of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilett

Non-commercial goods.....up to a value of FMK55

Passengers aged 18 and over without incurring customs duty:


Tobacco....300 (200) cigarettes or 150 (100) cigars or 400 (250) grams of tobacco

Liquor.....15 litres of beer and 5 (2) litres of wine and 3 (2) litres of other mild alcoholic drinks (less than 22% by volume)

Perfume....50 grams of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette

Non-commercial goods.....up to a value of FMK550

Passengers aged 20 and over without incurring customs duty:

Tobacco....300 (200) cigarettes or 150 (100) cigars or 400 (250) grams of tobacco

Liquor.....15 litres of beer and 5 (2) litres of wine and 3 (2) litres of other mild alcoholic drinks (less than 22% by volume) or 1 litre of strong alcoholic drink (more than 22% by volume)

Perfume....50 grams of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette

Non-commercial goods.....up to a value of FMK55

Note: If arriving from outside Europe--as above (refer to amounts given in brackets) travellers may import non-commercial goods to a value of FMK100.

Controlled items: The import and export of food, plants, medicines, firearms and works of art are subject to certain restrictions and formalities. In general, dogs and cats may be imported, provided they are accompanied by a certificate issued by a qualified veterinary surgeon to the effect that 30 days prior to entry, and within the previous year, they have been vaccinated against rabies. The certificate must be in finnish, swedish, english or german. Dogs and cats from rabies-free countries (sweden, norway, iceland, uk, ireland, australia and new zealand) do not require a certificate if imported direct. The importation of drinks containing more than 60% alcohol by volume is prohibited.



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