On Tuesday, October 6th, the Consular Corps in Finland celebrated 90th anniversary. The reception was held in the Aleksanderin teatteri, Helsinki.
The Consular Corps of both honorary consuls and career consuls representing foreign countries in Finland was established in Helsinki in 1925, being not only one of the eldest association in the region but also in the world. There are over 200 honorary consuls in Finland spread out from Lapland in the north to Aland Islands in the South. In Finland there are 18 honorary consuls general, 177 consuls and 11 vice-consuls. Honorary consuls represent 76 countries in the world.
The good co-operation of the consular organizations of the Nordic countries has taken place for decades. In the year 2011 on the initiative of the CC in Finland the first meeting including also the Baltic countries was arranged in Helsinki. This activity now continues with regular meetings alternating between the five Scandinavian and three Baltic states.
The Dean of the Consular Corps in Finland Consul General Dr. Gaius Gyllenbogel congratulated all the Excellencies and distinguished guests on the 90th anniversary of the association of Consular Corps.
The president of the Republic of the Finland Mr. Sauli Niinisto underlined the importance of the honorary consuls and expressed the necessity for even better collaboration of consuls in order to promote the trade relations between sending state and Finland.
Honorary Consul Margareta N. Eidensten, President, the Consular Corps Stockholm, Past Chairman, Corps Consulaire en Suede greeted guests on the anniversary, also pointing out that the Baltic states are following the tradition – there is Consular Corps in Estonia; Association on Consular Corps in Latvia was established this year.
Speaking the words of professor Matti Klinge – “history is always a change and always a continuity. Continuity has milestones, so let 1925 (when the Consular Corps in Finland was established) be one of them”.
Distinguished guests had an opportunity to listen to Jean Sibelius and Sergei Rahmaninov music, performed by Markus Suihkonen and Marita Viitasalo, and enjoy the ballet “Seitseman” (Seven), performed by Ballet Finland, choreography of Ville Valkonen.
Among guests was also the Association of Consular Corps in Latvia, represented by Ms. Ieva Urbanovica.
