HE Amb Dato’ Syed Sultan Idris hosts the Muslim HOMs Working Luncheon with H.E. Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister of Finland at Rumah Malaysia, Helsinki.

The Muslim HOMs in Finland met with Prime Minister Vanhanen for a working luncheon hosted by HE Dato’ Syed Sultan Idris, Ambassador of Malaysia on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at Rumah Malaysia, Finland. The topics of the luncheon discussion were Islamophobia and relations between the Muslim world and the West.

The luncheon was attended by all the Muslim HOMs in Helsinki which included the Ambassadors of Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Indonesia; CDAs of Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq and the Counsellor of Palestine General Delegation. Also in attendance was H.E. Amb. Esko Hamilo, Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Ms. Riina Nevamaki, Special Advisor, EU Affairs, Office of the Prime Minister.

Muslim HOMs pictured at the Working Luncheon with H.E. Prime Minister of Finland on 27May 2008 at Rumah Malaysia, Helsinki

The initiative to hold this meeting with the Prime Minister was taken as one of the ways to have active and constructive interaction and exchange of views between the Muslim Ambassadors and the Government of Finland.

The working luncheon was successful and the Muslim Ambassadors had a fruitful discussion with the Prime Minister. The HOMs thanked the Finnish Government in looking into the welfare of the Muslim minorities. HOMs also conveyed their hope for Finland to play a more active and constructive role towards bridging Islam and the Nordic region, and the West as a whole.

The Prime Minister responded positively to their request and also agreed to have the HOMs gathering on an annual basis.