New Permanent Representative of Finland Presents Credentials

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

The new Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Elina Kalkku, presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Kalkku was her country’s Under-Secretary of State Development Policy, Middle East and Africa.  She also served as Director-General of the Department of Americas and Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2015.  From 2000 to 2005, she was Director of the Security Policy unit at the Political Department of the Ministry.

She brings to her position extensive experience in security policy and crisis management, the European Union and United Nations, transatlantic relations and Asian affairs and the Middle East, as well as trade promotion and development cooperation.  In addition, she was a member of the Finnish delegation during Finland’s latest membership turn to the Security Council.  She also worked as a diplomatic adviser to the Foreign Minister in Helsinki.

She holds a master’s degree and a licentiate in law, specializing in international law, from the University of Helsinki, 1989 and 1999 respectively.