– lauds his environmental achievements, hopes to seek closer ties with Guyana
President Bharrat Jagdeo’s environmental leadership in the fight against climate change has been commended by Finland’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Mikko Pyhala. The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the President, along with Special Representative of Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pasi Patokallio, yesterday. The Special Representative brought with him a special message from the country’s Minister regarding Finland’s interest in becoming a member of the United Nations Security Council.
During the visit, the Ambassador congratulated President Jagdeo on his receipt of the Champion of the Earth Award and his instrumental role in pioneering Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Such a development model, the Finland Ambassador believes, plays an important role in the current climate negotiations process.
The discussion also focused on possible areas of cooperation such as the sharing of Finland’s expertise in flood warning, forest management and research, and in return, Guyana sharing its knowledge in biodiversity research.
Ambassador Pyhala told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that President Jagdeo is keen on closer ties with Finland, particularly in many of the suggested areas and low carbon investments.
Finland is taking several initiatives with CARICOM in the area of ocean governance, education and renewable energy, and intends to reap the benefits of such activities.
In 2007, the Finnish Ambassador presented his letters of credence to President Jagdeo. He speaks 11 languages and was bestowed an award in 1992 for the best non-fiction book, Amazonica.
He served in diplomatic positions in Czechoslovakia, Mexico, India and Italy. (GINA)