MSN-Mainichi Daily News:
"Finns go high-tech with text messaging EU diplomacy at start of bloc presidency
HELSINKI, Finland -- Don't call me, I'll text message you. These were the new rules of diplomatic engagement set down by Finland's foreign minister at the start of his country's European Union presidency Saturday.
The latest wireless gadgets are the new modes of communication as Finland tries to bring the EU closer to its citizens, so top officials can be reached anywhere, anytime.
Government ministers, including Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, have special phones equipped to handle e-mails, said his spokeswoman Sanna Kangasharju. "The prime minister prefers text messages. He doesn't like voice mail especially when he is in a meeting."
"They use it in their normal daily life," she said, adding that texting messages was the only discreet way to keep in touch with the outside world during meetings. It will come in handy as Finnish officials will be called upon to chair more than 500 meetings, including about a dozen summits during their six-month tenure as EU chair."
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