PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MR MARTTI AHTISAARI TO A CONGRATULATORY SPEECH BY MME ANNA ZIGURE, DOYENNE OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, HELSINKI 23.06.1997

Please accept my warmest thanks for the attention that you have shown me on my 60^th birthday and for your kind words and sentiments.

^{Both here in Europe and elsewhere around the globe we are experiencing very challenging and interesting times. We are entering a truly global era in which no country can solve its problems in isolation, but must seek to do so through cooperation. I feel uniquely privileged to be able to serve as President of my country in this period of historic change.}

^{On occasions like birthdays, one has to reflect on basics, go back to roots. As you may know, some of my own roots are intertwined with important events in the history of Finland. I was born in the ceded area of Karelia and am very proud of my Karelian roots. After the second world war, my road led to Kuopio and Oulu and eventually to Helsinki. It is in those cities that I have found my best friends and my most pleasant memories. Those friends have always been there for me.}

^{Most of my working life has been in diplomacy. I began my career in Pakistan and ended it in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and I must say that I still feel very much one of you.}

^{Finland's accession to the European Union was the most important and historic step taken by this country during my term as President. That has not altered the fact that bilateral relations are very important in our international affairs. I am pleased to be able to say that Finland has excellent relations with all the countries you represent. We cherish them and will continue to develop them actively.}

^{I thank you all for your cooperation and wish you every success in your important work.}