SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AT A PROMOTION
AND COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR CADETS ON 4.6.1998

Cadets!

I congratulate you on your success in the examination that you have taken to become officers. I hereby promote you to the rank of First Lieutenant and award you commissions in the Defence Forces and Frontier Guard.

Young Officers!

In the year in which the Defence Forces are celebrating their 80^th anniversary, the position and importance of national defence in Finnish society is being assessed. The Finns' will to defend their country is firm. This provides a good foundation on which to take care of security policy and for the operation of the Defence Forces. Your are beginning your work in a positive atmosphere.

The Defence Forces are being developed, in the way approved by Parliament, to respond to changing requirements. There is no need to alter the principles underlying our defence policy - territorial defence and general conscription. However, participation in crisis-management tasks calls for new capabilities on the part of our Defence Forces.

The choices made and policies adopted by Finland with respect to defence have been welcomed with satisfaction everywhere. The opportunity for persons trained by the Defence Forces to participate in crisis management is linked to international shouldering of responsibility. The NATO Partnership for Peace programme provides one instrument for this. Thus participating in international cooperation may be part of your career as officers.

The Defence Forces must, however, concentrate on the most important task of all, taking responsible for national defence. Your greatest task is to see to the ability of Finland and the Finns to defend themselves. It is the job of the Defence Forces to defend the whole country. Today, however, the likelihood of wars between states or of our country becoming the target of attack is slight.

As trainers you face a challenging task. The new periods of service for conscripts will be adopted from the July intake onwards. The content of training will be restructured in the same conjunction. In practice, you will be inaugurating the revised conscript training system after you have assumed your future tasks.

I am convinced that you will be able to meet the challenges that you face. To help you, you have an effectively-functioning defence system, the solid support of the political authorities and citizens as well as motivated and skilled workers.

Young Officers, I extend to you my best encouragement and wishes for success in your demanding careers.

Rector of the National Defence Academy, directors of and teachers at military institutes!

I thank you for a job well done and wish you success in your demanding task of training officers.