Elina Valtonen MP delivers 10th Harri Holkeri Lecture at Queen's
Elina Valtonen MP, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Finland, recently delivered the 10th Harri Holkeri Lecture at Queen’s.
The Harri Holkeri Lecture Series is organised and hosted by the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and the Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility Directorate at Queen’s, in partnership with the Embassy of Finland, with His Excellency Jukka Siukosaari, Ambassador of Finland to the UK, in attendance.
The Lecture Series recognises and celebrates the contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process of the late Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri. Holkeri’s aspiration to transform conflict and promote social justice in Northern Ireland and across the world is shared by the Mitchell Institute.
In her lecture, entitled: ‘Peace Mediation in the Age of Geopolitical Contestation,’ Minister Valtonen explored the key principles, including fairness and inclusivity, that should undermine efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
She reflected on the lessons from the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and applied the lessons from global experiences of peacebuilding to the efforts to end the war in Ukraine, emphasising the importance of Ukrainians having the right to determine their own future and ensure the long-term security of Ukraine and Europe.
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s said: “We were delighted to welcome Minister Valtonen to deliver the 10th Harri Holkeri lecture at Queen’s. This lecture series reflects the University’s commitment to global peace and honours the legacy of the late former Finnish Prime Minister and statesman, Harri Holkeri.
“Minister Valtonen’s thought-provoking lecture serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of dialogue and mediation in the pursuit of sustainable peace, and the critical role we all can play in shaping a more just and secure world for future generations.”
Commenting on the event, Mitchell Institute Director, Professor Richard English said: “The Mitchell Institute was delighted to host Minister Valtonen, whose very thoughtful and insightful lecture offered many points of timely significance.”
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, former President of Finland Tarja Halonen, and former First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster.
For more information on the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s, please visit: https://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/mitchell-institute/
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