OSCE CIO GRANTED SICK LEAVE OVER TEXT MESSAGES

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2008 16:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Finland has appointed a new foreign minister
to replace Ilkka Kanerva, who was involved in a scandal over text
messages sent to an erotic dancer.

Mr Kanerva sent 200 allegedly explicit messages to the dancer, and
later made misleading statements about them.

The leader of his Conservative party said Mr Kanerva had lost the
confidence and general respect that would allow him to stay in the job.

The new minister will be Alexander Stubb, aged 40, who is an MEP.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from Mr Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson
for the OSCE, whoever occupies the post of Foreign Minister of Finland,
will serve as OSCE Chairman-in-Office.