According to the chief steward, a total of four reports have been made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Vilén’s disruptive behavior.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has discussed with the head of the Finnish embassy in Ottawa today to Jari Vilén allegations of harassment.
– The employer announced that measures have been taken, and the matter is being handled by them, says the chief shop steward Kari Lehtonen.
Ilta-Sanomat reported on Tuesday that Staff of the Embassy of Finland in Ottawa claims that ambassador Jari Vilén has behaved in a disruptive and inappropriate manner.
According to the newspaper, members of the delegation wrote a 9-page petition about Vilén’s behavior.
It is alleged that Vilén, for example, touched the embassy’s female personnel in an unnecessary and surprising way. Vilén is also accused in the petition of having made inappropriate comments about ethnic, religious and sexual minorities.
The chief steward of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the claims mentioned in the petition are true.
– This is not a matter of the wind, Lehtonen tells .
A total of four appeals
Chief steward Lehtonen is concerned about the situation at the Finnish embassy in Ottawa.
– Of course, you shouldn’t compare anything, because everyone is an individual case. But yes this [tapaus] is very broad, says Lehtonen.
– Having served the Ministry of Foreign Affairs myself for 46 years, this raises great concern. The concern inevitably arises about the state of the working community [lähetystössä] yes, he continues.
Jari Vilén told Ilta-Sanom that the allegations about his disturbing behavior came as a surprise.
– These things are surprises and news for me, Vilén stated in an interview with Ilta-Sanomi.
On Wednesday, could not reach Ambassador Vilén to comment on the allegations against him.
“The impression remained that something would be done”
The 9-page petition reported by Ilta-Sanomie has been signed by seven people anonymously.
In addition to that, three other petitions have been made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which have been signed with names.
– They contain the same issue of harassment, says chief steward Lehtonen.
He hopes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would promptly intervene in the complaints made about Ambassador Vilén. Today, the chief steward could not figure out how to do it.
– There was a feeling that something would be done. The employer has not yet revealed what those measures are, says Lehtonen.
did not reach the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Undersecretary of State to comment on how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to investigate the allegations against Vilén.