WikiMini

Pasi Patokallio

Pasi Patokallio
Portrait of Pasi Patokallio, 2024
Born (1949-09-29) September 29, 1949 (age 75)
OccupationDiplomat

Pasi Patokallio (born 29 September 1949[1]) is a Finnish diplomat. He has served as the Ambassador of Finland to Israel, Canada and Australia, and led Finland's campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2012.[2]

An expert on arms proliferation, Patokallio served as the Director for Arms Control and Disarmament at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs,[2] the Chairperson of the 2nd Biennial Meeting of States for the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms,[3][4] the Chairman of the Nuclear Suppliers Group[1] and the Chair of two sessions of the Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[5][1] Patokallio was a candidate to head the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) weapons inspection organisation in Iraq,[6] a role that eventually went to Swedish diplomat Hans Blix.

He is also a noted critic of the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines, which Finland joined in 2012 during the presidency of Tarja Halonen.[7] Patokallio argues that given Finland's lengthy border with Russia, unilaterally signing the treaty when Russia did not caused “irreparable harm” to Finland's defence posture.[8] In 2024, he was one of the authors of a successful citizens' initiative to withdraw from the treaty.[9] Finland formally notified the UN of its intent to withdraw in July 2025.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Embassy of Finland, Ottawa - Staff". October 10, 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-10-10.
  2. ^ a b "New Heads of Mission to Canberra and Nicosia". Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
  3. ^ "UNIVERSAL ACTION NEEDED TO HALT ILLEGAL PROLIFERATION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL AS HE OPENS MEETING OF STATES PARTIES | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org.
  4. ^ "Foreign Ministry's press releases - Finland abroad". Thailand.
  5. ^ "Enhanced NPT Review Process Gets Underway at First PrepCom Session | Arms Control Association". www.armscontrol.org.
  6. ^ "UN split over Iraq arms inspector". 19 January 2000.
  7. ^ Viljakainen, Miika (January 2, 2018). "Kanava: Ex-suurlähettiläs ripittää Halosta ja Tuomiojaa jalkaväkimiinoista luopumisesta: "Heikensi merkittävästi Suomen puolustusta"". Ilta-Sanomat.
  8. ^ "Entinen suurlähettiläs tyrmää Halosen-Tuomiojan linjan: miinakielto aiheutti korvaamatonta vahinkoa". January 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Citizens' initiative calls on Finland to withdraw from the Ottawa landmine treaty". News. November 28, 2024.
  10. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/finland-notifies-un-withdrawal-landmine-ban-treaty-2025-07-11/