Remarks With Finnish Foreign Minister Cai-Goran Alexander Stubb Before Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Treaty Room

Washington, DC

SECRETARY CLINTON: I’m delighted to welcome the foreign minister from Finland. He and I have gotten to know each other over the last several months, and I’ve enjoyed both his company on a personal level and equally the great work that he’s doing on behalf of an important ally and friend to the United States. So welcome, we’re glad you’re here.

FOREIGN MINISTER STUBB: Thank you very much. Thanks, Hillary, and thanks for the invitation. I’m really happy to be here. I’m just back from Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey – probably some of the issues that we’ll be discussing today. We’ll probably also talk about Russia. The U.S. has always been very close to my heart, not least because I’ve studied here for many years, and a very close ally, as Hillary said. And if the negotiations get tough, I’ll put on my southern drawl and we’ll get everything through, no problem. (Laughter.)