SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,
MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI, AT THE HAKUBA FINLAND HOUSE
ON 17.2.1998

I am very grateful for the opportunity to visit this house. On a day like this and in such surroundings, it is easy to feel at home. Indeed, this building is a perfect example of good cooperation and a credit to the Finnish and Japanese project designers, architects, builders and other professionals involved. It truly merits its bi-national name, the Hakuba Finland House.

I have been told that in the short time since it opened its doors this building has become well known to the people of Hakuba and other visitors. It is an excellent showcase for Finland: for our industries, culture, food and people - in short, the Finnish way of life. I would really like to congratulate the Finnish Olympic Committee, the Finnish Foreign Trade Association and the participating companies and other institutional sponsors for creating this excellent meeting place. I hope that it will further promote our presence and businesses in Nagano and all over Japan.

It gives me great satisfaction that economic relations between Finland and Japan have grown rapidly in the past few years. The hard work and tenacity of Finnish companies have begun to yield fruit here in Japan and I expect healthy growth in trade between us to continue. Naturally, the recent economic instability has been reflected in our bilateral trade, but I am confident that the slowdown will be only temporary. Japan is a very important economic partner for Finland and the overall prospects are promising.

It may well be that to many Finns the name Hakuba is already better known than that of Nagano itself, because the competitions in the disciplines of greatest interest to the Finnish people are being held here. Indeed, it is from here that we shall be taking some of our most cherished Olympic memories back home with us. And I hope that after the games are over, personal contacts and friendships will continue, perhaps even in the form of some kind of annual Finnish skiing event here in Hakuba.

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate and thank the Finnish team for their magnificent performance at these Olympics! You have brought us Finns many moments of pride and joy in the past one and a half weeks. I wish you every success in the remaining days as well!

Since I am leaving Japan tomorrow I shall take this opportunity to thank Director-General Makoto Kobayashi and through him the 0rganizing Committee (NAOC) and all the other Japanese organisers. The hospitality and punctuality for which Japan is famous have been the trademarks of these games. We Finns will remember these Winter Olympics not only for the brilliant successes of our athletes, but also for the excellent arrangements and the friendly spirit of Nagano.

Thank you.