Mr Perttu Puro as political State Secretary to aid Minister Luhtanen

Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland, submitted a proposal to Government that Mr Perttu Puro, LL.M., M.Soc.Sc., be appointed as political State Secretary in her Ministry.

Mr Puro (34) is now Special Adviser to Minister Luhtanen and before that he acted as Special Adviser to Minister of Justice Johannes Koskinen.

His previous appointments include Clerk of Parliament of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group and Research Officer in the National Research Institute of Legal Policy. His publications deal for example with international human rights issues.

Minister Luhtanen says that State Secretary's most important duties relate to the national preparation for the European Union transport and communications policy and development of other international affairs at the Ministry, particularly matters related to Russia.

As State Secretary Mr Puro's duties will be to promote the implementation of the Government Programme within the sphere of responsibilities of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. He will also be responsible for the Ministry's preparation for the work of ministerial working groups. Such groups are for example the ministerial working groups on Government transport investment policy, and on communications policy. Mr Puro will also act as general secretary of the steering group that outlines the logistics development programme in accordance with the Government Programme.

Mr Puro will take up the post during January 2005.



For further information please contact:

Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 9 160 28320
Mr Perttu Puro, Special Adviser to the Minister of Transport and Communications, tel. +358 40 779 3436