TBILISI, GEORGIA – Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) will meet with Finland’s Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva on Monday, January 7 in Helsinki, Finland. Hastings, who is currently leading the election observation mission in the Republic of Georgia on behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has been asked by Foreign Minister Kanerva to brief him on conclusions of the election. Hastings also plans to discuss Russia, Kosovo, and Finland’s leadership as the new Chairman-in-Office (CiO) of the OSCE. Foreign Minister Kanerva assumed the Chairmanship of the OSCE on January 1, 2008.
Hastings will also hold a joint press conference directly following his meeting with Foreign Minister Kanerva at 12:00 p.m. at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki, Finland.