In a week, Kultaranta will host the president’s annual pre-midsummer security policy seminar. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt and former Finnish president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari are set to weigh in on issues affecting the future of the international community. Participants--mostly foreign policy veterans--will also mull the future direction of the UN from a Finnish perspective.
The Kultaranta Talks will take place from June 17-18. Guterres is expected to deliver closing remarks at the discussions on Monday afternoon. The UN Secretary General will also hold one-on-one talks with president Niinistö during his visit. Yle will broadcast the main discussion sessions live. Viewers can follow Sunday (17 June) evening's discussions on Yle Areena, while Monday's debate (18 June) will be aired on Yle TV 1.
Baby’s first summer
Many Naantali locals showed up at the city’s marina on Saturday eager to catch a glimpse of the couple’s four-month old son, Aaro. However Finland’s first baby did not make a public appearance.
Jenni Haukio told Yle that that Aaro's arrival has brought on a whole new daily routine for the family.
”He will enjoy being here as much as we do,” Haukio told Yle of the family's summer plans.
Kultaranta is located on Luonnonmaa, an island southwest of the city of Naantali. The 54-hectare estate includes a number of parks, and conservatories and has been the summer residence of Finnish presidents since 1922. The president usually spends the summer period from early June to August at the residence, with thousands of tourists visiting the location annually.