President to attend Munich Security Conference

President Sauli Niinistö will attend the international Munich Security Conference in Germany scheduled to be held from 18–20 February, said the Office of the President in a press release on Monday.

Niinistö will participate in a panel discussion on East-West Relations and the European Security Architecture on the main stage of the conference on 19 February.

The discussion will be live broadcast on the conference website from 5:00 pm Finnish time.

The President will hold several bilateral meetings during the conference.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, has stressed that Russian leaders are invited to take part in the international talks this weekend, reported dpa.

"The chance of us actually arranging meaningful talks on the issue in Munich is of course much greater if an authorized Russian government representative with permission to speak were present," Ischinger said in Berlin on Monday in comments about the Ukraine crisis.

As potential guests, Ischinger mentioned by name Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, former president Dmitry Medvedev and incumbent President Vladimir Putin. But "unfortunately, this was rejected," he said.

The Munich Security Conference opens on Friday. Discussions about Ukraine, Russia and NATO are set to dominate the event on Saturday, while Sunday will be dedicated to the future of the European Union.

Upon presenting the "Security Report 2022" on Monday, Ischinger lamented a collective and, to a certain extent, learned helplessness in response to a multitude of crises.

The conference itself will be attended by more than 100 ministers and more than 30 heads of state and government.

Last year, the security conference could only taken place virtually due to the pandemic. This year, it will take place in person but on a smaller scale and under strict hygiene measures.

Covid restrictions also make it more difficult for Russian guests to travel to the conference because they are usually not vaccinated with vaccines approved in Germany. "That's why quite a number of Russians have cancelled," said Ischinger.

Organised since 1963, the Munich Security Conference is a discussion forum that seeks to promote resolution of conflicts, international cooperation and dialogue.

The conference will be attended by foreign and security decision-makers from around the world.

The number of participants has been reduced this year due to the coronavirus situation. Last year, the conference was held virtually.