On Thursday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (NCP) commented on the situation in the Middle East at the Kotkaniemi security forum in Luumäki.
According to Valtonen, negotiating a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and releasing the hostages is the priority at the moment. The humanitarian situation in Gaza should also be remedied.
"Finland's position on the Middle East and also on the Israel-Palestine conflict is completely unchanged, and our position is that we support the two-state model," Valtonen said.
According to Valtonen, Finland will recognise the Palestinian state once negotiations for a more permanent peace on the basis of a two-state model have been initiated.
When asked about the opening of the border between Finland and Russia, Valtonen said that the opening of the border will probably be reviewed again in the autumn.
"For the time being, the border remains closed," Valtonen told Yle.
