The Åland Islands is an autonomous, self-governing, Swedish-speaking part of Finland. The League of Nations granted Finland sovereignity over Åland in 1921. Furthermore, Åland is also a demilitarised region as confirmed in the Paris Peace Treaty in 1947. How to structure and build up a functional autonomy? What are the legal parameters and what does it require from governing Parliament and the region involved? How to ensure that local language is preserved? These topics were be discussed by the experts at the conference organized by the Finnish Institute in Japan and the Embassy of Finland, Tokyo. The conference was a part of the Finnish Institute’s 25th Anniversary program. Thank you to all participants!
Date: February 16th, 2023
Time: 3PM (doors open 2:30PM) – 6PM, followed by a networking reception
Participants: 40 persons
Place: Embassy of Finland, Tokyo
Program
3:00 Opening words
Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan
3:15 Greetings
Tanja Jääskeläinen, Ambassador of Finland to Japan
3:35 “The Åland Example – A Success Story”
Mats Löfström, MP, Parliament of Finland
4:05 “The Åland Example – 100 years of Experience, The Åland Islands Peace Institute – 30 years of Peace Work”
Sia Spiliopoulou-Åkermark, Director, The Åland Islands Peace Institute
4:40 Coffee break
4:50 “The Åland Islands’ Legal Status and Its Implications”
Kaija Suvanto, Director General, Legal Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
5:20 “The Åland Examle: A Japanese View”
Fujio Ohnishi, Associate Professor, University of Hokkaido
5:50 Closing remarks
Anna-Maria Wiljanen, Director of the Finnish Institute in Japan
6:00 Networking reception at the Embassy of Finland, Tokyo
7:45 Doors close
The program may be subject to changes.
Organized by:
