SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC TO THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN HELSINKI ON 13.4.1995

I wish to express my satisfaction at a broadly-based majority Government having been so expeditiously assembled. That is a valuable achievement in view of the scale of the challenges that lie ahead.

The work to be done has already been tackled. In the course of the negotiations leading to the formation of the coalition, it has been possible to reach detailed agreement on solutions that are difficult, but inescapable.

The recent general election produced major changes in the relative strengths of the political parties. The Government has been built on a new foundation. This had demonstrated an ability to cooperate. The allocation of ministerial posts also strengthens gender equality.

The members of the new Government differ from each other in background and ideological views. That, too, is a concrete indication that a broadly-based willingness to create an enduring framework for development is emerging in Finland; a genuine new beginning.

There are difficult decisions to make in order to create the prerequisites for a better tomorrow. The Government must show tenacity and stamina. After all, the citizens have done so. We need a long-term perspective, because lasting reforms can be accomplished only by a Government that sits for the full parliamentary term.

We Finns must bear in mind why these difficult decisions have to be made: to root out unemployment and safeguard the foundation of citizens' wellbeing.

As I see it, this feature uniting the Government is linked to a desire to assess the problems facing us open-mindedly and with a sense of common responsibility, without the ballast of the past.

The Government programme already includes policy outlines which indicate the direction for change. What the Government has designed is a direct development contract with the people of Finland. It is to be hoped that this offer will be grasped on as broad a basis as possible and that it receives the support of all interest organisations.

Environmental questions as well as training and research are now widely recognised as central factors in building the future of the nation.

Finland is developing into a more multi-stranded society of citizens. Parties are divided and united by more and more new kinds of things, above all by the attitude taken to change. Those parties who share a willingness to see change as a challenge rather than a threat to development have joined the Government.

I believe that the new Government is interested in rational development of the market economy. Proceeding in that direction presupposes management of disturbances in the market economy. Economic structures that have outlived their usefulness and are expensive for society to maintain must be dismantled and a new spirit of enterprise along with solutions that encourage independent enterprise on the part of citizens must be created.

I am certain that the Government now beginning its work considers the balanced development of the country an important task.

International transformation goes on. The post-Cold-War period is a time of changes, but above all of opportunities. Your government is the Government of this era of opportunities.

Immediately facing us is the task of developing our country's status and role as a member country of the European Union. In this sense, the intergovernmental conference arranged for 1996 is important. Preparing for it is a nationally significant challenge.

A strong input is now demanded of members of the Council of State, especially in the work of the Union's councils.

What is involved more and more often in foreign and security policy is management of international change. We must make our assessments with consideration of the resources at our disposal, but open-mindedly. Let us seek partners rather than enemies.

Our continent's security order is taking shape. We are aiming for the creation of a European security area based on cooperation and where political problems are not solved by military means. We have much to give in this work.

The more unity of purpose there exists among its citizens, the more successful will a small country like Finland be in international cooperation. It is important that the branches of government cooperate well. For my part, I am prepared for that.

I wish the new Government success in its work for the country and its citizens. For my part, I shall be delighted to give the Government all appropriate support within the limits of my powers.