Finland continues humanitarian, expert aid to quake hit Turkey

President Sauli Niinistö visited the area affected by the earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, south-eastern Turkey on Thursday, on the first of his two-day visit, said the President Office in a press release.

“Visited Kahramanmaraş in south-eastern Türkiye today (Thursday). The rescue and aid workers are doing extremely important work in the midst of the devastation caused by the earthquakes. Finland continues to provide humanitarian and expert assistance to help those affected,” Niinistö wrote in a twitter post.

On Friday, the President will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul.

In addition to the reconstruction after the earthquake, the discussions will focus on the geopolitical situation, bilateral relations between Finland and Turkey and Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO memberships.

Turkey is expected to make its announcement to ratify Finland´s NATO accession protocol on Friday in presence of Niinistö.

President Niinistö’s delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.