Unofficial translation

SPEECH BY MR MARTTI AHTISAARI, THE PRESIDENT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND

AT A STATE DINNER IN MOSCOW, MAY 18, 1994

Mr President,

Mrs Yeltsin,

Ladies and gentlemen:

My wife and I should like to express my warmest thanks for

your invitation to make this spring visit to Moscow. Making such a visit only just over two months after my inauguration symbolizes the stability and excellence of Finnish-Russian relations.

As you said yourself, Mr President, in your speech in what used to be the Imperial Hall of State at the Presidential Palace during your State visit to Finland two years ago, this was not always the case. There are both happy and bitter pages in the history of our two countries' relations.

To underline Russia's determination to close the bitter pages once and for all, you then became the first head of state from our eastern neighbour to lay a wreath at Finland's main war memorial.

I assure you that the Finnish nation fully understood the meaning of your words and will attach lasting significance to your historic gesture of reconciliation.

Finns familiar with their own history are well aware how important for the development of our societies have been those periods during which we have been able to enjoy peace and stability along Finland's eastern border.

As part of Sweden, Finland spent centuries as the eastern part of the kingdom, which assumed a Nordic social system and managed to preserve its own language and identity. As Sweden expanded and became a great power, Finland's position as a boundary region gained importance, though its development was thwarted amid the uncertainties of incessant wars.

When Russia took over Finland in 1809, the first ninety years under their former enemy proved a good time for the Finnish people. Alexander I proclaimed that he would raise Finland to be a nation among nations. He decided to retain our Nordic social system and legislation, and gave us political autonomy in internal affairs. In the second half of the 19th century, our culture, economy and political democracy started to develop rapidly.

As the end of the century approached, however, the Russian government started to treat Finland increasingly as a troublesome border zone, whose autonomy was perceived as a threat to the safety of the realm. The Finns resisted, and in the aftermath of the October Revolution the Finnish Parliament declared the country independent. Unfortunately, it was to take decades before relations between the two neighbours would begin to follow the path of cooperation after a period of conflict and war. Establishing relations with Russia after the Soviet Union broke up marked a move to a relationship of "equalpartnership, free from ideological doctrine and hypocrisy", to quote your own words, Mr President.

I concur completely with what you assured my respected predecessor, President Koivisto, in this respect: we want to hold on firmly to all the positive achievements of the past in our relationship and to work actively to develop our cooperation further.

In their mutual relations, Finland and Russia observe the principles inscribed in the United Nations Charter and the Final Act of the CSCE. These are also embodied in the bilateral agreements that were updated promptly and in mutual understanding after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Russia inherited its position as Finland's eastern neighbour.

At the same time, however, economic cooperation between us ran into difficulties and declined as a result of the upheaval that the Soviet Union and Russia went through at the beginning of the '90s. This last year, though, has seen a rapid turn for the better. The agreements already concluded and those currently being negotiated will stabilize these developments and give them new impetus. Accompanying me on this trip to Moscow is a high-level delegation representing the Finnish business sector, whose discussions will, I hope, promote cooperation at corporate level.

We also believe that Finnish accession to the European Union should open up new opportunities for further cooperation between us. We consider particularly promising the openings in areas close to our common border and throughout the Baltic region.

Mr President:

The end of the Cold War opened up the way for cooperation and disarmament that will increase the security of nations. We must see to it that further advances are made and that no new international divides are allowed to emerge.

Unfortunately, the post-Cold War world is still full of serious problems and conflicts. Wars, poverty, environmental problems and a general sense of insecurity endanger human safety as much as the threat of nuclear war ever did.

Finding lasting solutions to these problems is only possible if we work in international cooperation, and today there are far more international organizations to help us here. The principles of this cooperation are endorsed in the key documents of the UN and CSCE. Finland intends to go on helping to strengthen the structures of European security and to settle disputes that have escalated into military conflict. In these endeavours, Russia and all the other major powers have an important role to play and a great responsibility to carry.

Finland hopes that relations between Russia and the independent Baltic countries will stabilize as soon as possible. We believe that the withdrawal of foreign troops from these countries would greatly promote this goal. Russia has already reached agreement with Lithuania and Latvia. It is equally to be hoped that mutual understanding can be reached on all outstanding issues between Russia and Estonia. It would be beneficial for security throughout northern Europe if the widest possible cooperation and interaction could be achieved between all the countries in the Baltic region. This would also promote balanced internal development in their societies, something of importance for stability throughout the region.

Mr President:

Under your leadership, Russia is going through a historic process of change. The difficulties are enormous, but much has already been achieved. We know what painful decisions you yourself have had to make. At the end of your new book you stress the importance of national conciliation and say that what the Russians now want most of all is stability and equilibrium in politics and the economy. You say that you yourself understand the aspirations of your people and respond to them frankly and rationally. You are deeply aware of your responsibility to history.

Mr President:

Mrs Yeltsin,

Ladies and gentlemen:

Allow me to offer you my warmest thanks for the wonderful hospitality that we have received today here in Moscow. I greatly appreciate the fact that plenty of time has been reserved on my official programme for discussions with you and other Russian leaders on both bilateral and

international questions.

I should like to propose a toast to good relations between Finland and Russia, to the happiness of the Russian people, and to the health and prosperity of yourself and your wife.