Address by President Martti Ahtisaari at the annual meeting

of the National Defence Courses

FINNISH FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY IN THE 1990s

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My respected predecessors J.K.Paasikivi, Urho Kekkonen

and Mauno Koivisto demonstrated by their actions and

political legacy hat geography and history have a solid presence

in Finland's foreign and security policy.

The Finns understand that small nations cannot shape their

environments as major powers can. Finland has, however,

shown that it can adjust creatively to changes in

circumstances and also influence these changes as its own

values and objectives dictate.

Since the end of the '80s, we have been living through a

period of historic upheaval in the international community.

A global community of states and coalitions of states is

taking shape, based on several centres of power and

influence. Economic and technological competitiveness

largely decides how well each state will succeed in this

new order. The more conventional idea of the prime

importance of military might in assessing relations between

states must be set against this historic change.

The old geopolitical patterns are changing, but more slowly

than we sometimes think, a fact that also has consequences

for security policy in the case of a country like Finland.

Thus, we should evaluate our foreign and security policy in

terms of its regional, European and global implications and

contexts.

Ladies and gentlemen:

This year, 50 years will have passed since the end of the

Continuation War. Our veterans and war dead deserve the

nation's gratitude for fighting to win Finland's freedom.

They ensured that our social order remained a democratic

one. The outcome of the Second World War was therefore no

defeat for us, but rather a defensive victory.

By building a working relationship with its neighbour the

Soviet Union, Finland managed to preserve its sovereignty

and freedom in the difficult position that big power

politics forced it into during the post-war period.

A policy of neutrality was Finland's way of strengthening

its independence and of participating and involving itself,

especially in the UN and the CSCE.

It is in line with Finland's ultimate security interests to

ensure that there will be no return to a Europe divided

into different spheres of interest and power politics.

Finland has abandoned its special Cold War status. Instead

of following a solitary path, it chooses the common way.

We have systematically dismantled the structures of the

past, such as the military restrictions of the Paris peace

treaty and the Finnish-Soviet treaty. We are committed to

an integrated Europe and to the principles by which it

operates. In this, we are following the long-term line of

our European policy. It is our consistent aim to prevent

any new division of Europe.

In the Cold War era, Finland showed great concern and a

sense of responsibility about stability in northern Europe

and about the security of the north. This aim remains part

of our long-term strategy, but it faces us with new tasks

now that there is no longer an Iron Curtain in the parts of

eastern Europe closest to us.

Ladies and gentlemen:

We have realized in recent years that our security concerns

have changed. The nuclear catastrophe at Chernobyl in 1986

marked a turning point in our view. It was actually caused

by gross negligence, but it reminded us how vulnerable we

are ecologically. Mankind has to protect itself, not so

much against a single country or several countries, as

against its own lifestyle.

We must also overcome poverty and bring world population

under control. We must diversify the means by which we

strengthen our security. Global forms of cooperation must

be developed. In work like this, there are no small

countries or big ones. There are only countries capable of

cooperation or incapable of it. Finland is on the side of

cooperation.

As yet, no order has evolved to replace the old military,

political and ideological division of Europe. But we are

working towards a better security system, which would rest

on common values and mutual responsibility for observing

them. The CSCE creates such standards and provides the

political basis for common action in preventing and solving

conflicts. It promotes the adoption of a broader view of

security in practice.

The shaping of a new world order has led to a diverse and

dynamic phase in political and economic integration, to

expansion of the European Union which is implementing it,

and to more intensive cooperation.

Finland considers that enlargement of the EU is the most

important factor in strengthening stability on our

continent. It is thus a process of prime significance for

our common security.

Economically and socially, membership of the EU will

further structural change and the internationalization

process. In foreign and security policy, membership will

mark a new working framework for Finland. As a member, we

will be involved in a key grouping of influence in world

politics, which acts as a single force in many fields.

Ladies and gentlemen:

The end of confrontation in Europe offers us new potential

for moving towards what nations have wanted for centuries -

permanent peace. Our collective security must be

reinforced through the right global and regional

arrangements.

We have seen the emergence of some violent conflicts in the

former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union. For a long time to

come, peace in Europe will rest on an uncertain foundation.

To achieve security, we need mutual dependence,

international cooperation, a network of national societies

and economies, and broader integration. Ultimately,

security requires democracy well-rooted in practice through

Europe and the CSCE area. Finland supports this process.

The CSCE aims primarily to prevent conflicts from arising

and to take a hand in correcting their causes. The

European stability agreement proposed by French premier

Balladur is an example of this thinking, and would

strengthen the CSCE.

Overall, safeguarding peace and managing crises calls for

good will and skill from all countries and institutions.

As a country that has always supported and contributed to

conventional peacekeeping, we are also involved in new

forms of military cooperation in which our contribution is

desired. Thus, we have decided to take part in certain

aspects of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme.

In my view, such partnership provides one way of furthering

the common security of Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen:

The existence of superpowers with nuclear weapons is still

felt to be a strategic factor in the north, even while Cold

War structures are being dismantled.

There are new problems elsewhere: in destroying nuclear

weapons, in coping with environmental damage and in

preventing the spread of nuclear armament.

The standing of Finland and the north in general is

substantially affected by the closeness of Russia, for the

latter will remain a Eurasian superpower. The military

presence of the United States will, on the other hand,

remain an important factor in European stability.

Internal developments in Russia will be hard to predict for

a long time to come. Many see what could be grave security

considerations in this fact. Supporting change in Russia,

cooperating with the Russians, and linking Russia firmly

into a common European security region are objectives that

Finland and the other Nordic states can help to attain.

Finland's relations with Russia are good. My State visit to

Russia this week underlines this happy state of affairs.

Relations between our two countries are now being built up

freely and straightforwardly. When problems arise, we talk

about them, and call them by their proper names. There is

also frank dialogue between us on military security.

Finland and Sweden today have similar positions with regard

to security policy. I am sure that the two countries'

future choices will take as a starting point the

preservation and strengthening of stability in countries

close to us.

Putting relations between the Baltic countries and Russia

on a normal and workable footing that observes CSCE

principles is important for Europe as a whole.

It is important in terms of the future security of the

Baltic countries for economic and social development there

to go on. We are furthering these countries' security

position by purchasing industrial goods from them. Finland

and all the Nordic countries will continue to work for and

support the reinforcement of democratic institutions there.

It is obvious that a safe Baltic region is one important

element in the stability of northern Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen:

The question of Finnish EU membership will soon be settled.

Now that the European Parliament has so convincingly

endorsed the accession agreement, it will be signed in

something over a month. Thereafter, the issue will

ultimately be up to us.

I look forward to wide popular debate on this issue to form

a basis for the referendum next autumn. We Finns must make

it clear to ourselves and others just where we want our

country to go. The nation will choose its own path.

Our key reason for joining the EU is that we want to have

influence and to play a part. We want to be involved when

decisions affecting our future are made.

As an EU member, Finland would strive to draw EU interest

to issues affecting northern Europe and to channel EU

resources there - to give the Union a northern dimension.

The European Union's security policy is still evolving. It

relies on carefully intensifying the cooperation between

member states that has already gone on for years. However,

there are still some questions that remain open, concerning

military cooperation and defence. The Maastricht treaty

lays down certain goals and lines of operation for these.

If we become an EU member at the beginning of 1995, our

first great challenge will be the intergovernmental

conference in 1996, which is supposed not only to work on

the Union's institutions and decision-making process, but

also to consider the building of a common defence policy

and possibly a common defence.

In his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on

November 16, 1993, my respected predecessor, President

Koivisto, dealt with our approach to security policy on the

threshold of EU membership. He said as follows: "Finland is not asking for a free ride in terms of security. We do not feel threatened and are not in the search for new security solutions. Finland pursues a policy of military non-alliance and an independent and credible defence. In the European Union, we are fully prepared to take an active part in the common foreign and security policy and in its further development as foreseen in the Treaty. We do not exclude any options."

I agree with this position.

As an EU member, Finland will be party to the Union's

common foreign and security policy. In practice, this means

primarily that we will be ready to bear our share of the

responsibility for crisis management and peacekeeping, an

area of international politics in which we have long and

widely acknowledged know-how and experience. Finland has

the resolution and ability to make its contribution to the

work that the future may bring. When new members join the

Union, this is where the first expectations will be

focused. With this in mind, we will work out our relations

with the Western European Union, or WEU.

In the last few decades and years, our defence forces have

been developed and managed in exemplary style, particularly

in view of our economic situation and meagre resources. We

can be proud of our defence forces, and of the professional

skills and motivation of our soldiers and other regular

personnel.

The way in which our borders are guarded is also excellent.

We must ensure that this remains true in the future, too.

Side by side with their traditional defensive role, our

defence forces are taking on new kinds of international

functions. The new challenge that we must face is to

prepare ourselves for more extensive international

cooperation in peacekeeping and military crisis management,

as I noted earlier in this address. This is one important

new role for the defence forces that is intimately related

to our evolving role in the CSCE and as an EU member.

Ladies and gentlemen:

We will build security here in the north, on the European

continent and in the world community by developing forms

and structures of cooperation and interaction. Though

fraught with difficulties, this is the path of hope.

It is vital for Finland to continue to play its part in

strengthening our common security.