My most sincere thanks to you, Mr. President, for the kind words and expressions of welcome that you have addressed to my wife and me personally and to our accompanying party. I also appreciate the warm sentiments that you indicated for Finland and her people.

Mine is the first state visit by a Finnish president to Argentina. Your country gave newly-independent Finland official recognition in May 1918 and legates were exchanged already in the 1920s. Argentina's first envoy, Hilarión D. Moreno, presented his letter of credentials in Helsinki in 1926. Finland's first envoy to Argentina and to Latin America in general was Georg Gripenberg, who arrived by liner in Buenos Aires in September 1929 and immediately took up his post. From the very beginning, trade created the foundation for our relations.

Since 1995 Finland's membership of the European Union has brought a new dimension to our relations with Argentina and the other states of Latin America. It has added diversity and depth to those relations. Our shared goals the promotion of international peace and security, safeguarding development and stability in societies, respect for human rights, strengthening democratic development, a responsible relationship with our environment and natural resources, a higher level of economic exchange, freedom of trade and strengthening the multilateral trade system.

My visit underscores the desire of the Finnish government and people for increased dialogue and more economic and cultural exchanges with Argentina.

Finnish membership of the EU complements our bilateral relations and creates a firm foundation for their further development.

Mr. President,

In common with so many other countries, Argentina has undergone a thorough process of transformation in recent years. Under your leadership, the country has achieved laudable success in stabilising its economy. Parallel to that, the roots of democracy have decisively strengthened. I have been following your efforts and greatly admire what you have achieved.

During your term, Argentina has concluded agreements, both regionally and with the International Atomic Energy Agency, providing for safeguards in relation to nuclear materials and, most importantly, acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Those exemplary measures have substantially enhanced the security of the whole world. Your accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty also made possible a resumption of cooperation between the European Union and Argentina in the nuclear field and an agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear power. As a member of the European Union, Finland contributed actively to efforts to bring those negotiations to a positive conclusion. We likewise supported Argentina's candidacy for the chair of the NSG group of nuclear exporters during the current annual term, which ends in April. Argentina's decision to terminate the Condor missile project and to accede to the Missile Technology Control Regime were likewise bold moves, which point the way forward in international efforts to prevent the proliferation of long-range ballistic missiles.

Mr. President,

World trade has been liberalised in recent years and business operations have become increasingly global in character. The result has been an intensification of competition.

Unfortunately, rationalisation, higher levels of productivity and automation of many production processes have reduced the labour requirement; in other words, eliminated jobs.

With the long-term interests of humankind in view, we must overcome the difficulties that this stage of development involves. We cannot turn the wheel of development back. We must use national creativity and solidarity as well as all-round international cooperation to find solutions to many of the problems that characterise our times.

Finland is seeking solutions not only nationally, but also together with the other member states of the European Union. Argentina is likewise actively engaging in regional integration. MERCOSUR, the common market of the southern cone of South America, has in only a very short time considerably increased the volume of trade between the participating states. Its stimulating effect on the economies involved has not escaped notice in Europe.

Finland supports the development of relations between the European Union and MERCOSUR on the basis of the framework agreement signed in Madrid. We in Finland should draw the attention of our companies to the commercial opportunities that flow from MERCOSUR.

I believe that there is a lot to be done to develop economic relations between us to our mutual benefit. Finland is prepared to offer you our best technology. In the areas where we have traditionally been strong, such as the forestry and forest products sector, we enjoy undeniable international competitiveness. We have also developed new high-technology products in sectors that include telecommunications, energy, mining and metallurgy and environmental protection. Correspondingly, Argentina has much to offer Finland. Those opportunities will be explored at tomorrow's seminar arranged by our countries' industry federations.

For all peoples, culture is a central wellspring of creativity and energy. And in relations between peoples it can be an important binding factor. One cultural element that unites us is the tango, which has had a prominent place in dance music in Finland for decades. Hundreds of Finnish tangos have been composed. Many Finnish hearts beat to the tempo of the somewhat melancholy Finnish version of the tango. Perhaps we should consider importing more fiery Argentinean renditions to brighten up our long dark winter evenings. The more we get to know each other, the greater the range of new opportunities for interaction. That is why I would like to see more cultural exchange between our countries.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

With those sentiments, let me propose a toast to good fortune and success of the Argentinean people, to thriving relations between our countries and to your personal health.