SPEECH OF THANKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI
AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY
PRIME MINISTER JOSÉ MARÍA AZNAR
MADRID 2 FEBRUARY 1999

On behalf of my wife, myself and my entire party, I thank you and Señora Ana Botella for the warm reception that we have received here in the historical Moncloa Palace.

We had very useful discussions before this lunch. They were a continuation of a series that has included several meetings between us at summit gatherings.

Once again we were able to note that bilateral relations between Finland and Spain are exemplary. We cannot find problems in these relations even by looking hard, as could be noted in your discussions with Prime Minister Lipponen here in this same place a year ago. Also during this visit, our Foreign Ministers Abel Matutes and Tarja Halonen have been able to express their satisfaction at the positive state of cooperation between Finland and Spain.

Our Presidency of the EU in the second semester of this year is quite a challenge for us Finns. We shall strive to promote European integration and EU enlargement in a balanced way. We do not yet have a precise picture of what issues it will be possible to resolve during the ongoing German Presidency. However, it would be important for a compromise suiting all parties to emerge on the Agenda 2000 question by March.

Besides enlargement and budget questions, the concentration during the Finnish Presidency will be on security within the Union and guaranteeing its citizens’ fundamental rights. You, Prime Minister, spoke on these matters at the informal European Council meeting in Pörtschach, and it was on your initiative that the Council decided to convene a special summit to deliberate legal and internal affairs during the Finnish Presidency. The outlines of the cooperation that the European countries will pursue to increase internal security during the first years of the new millennium will be determined at the Tampere summit.

I note with pleasure the support that Spain has been giving Finland’s initiative concerning a Northern Dimension for the EU. Finland’s premise from the very beginning has been that this is not a rival alternative to the EU’s Mediterranean Dimension, but rather a complementary initiative.

The high-level Finnish business delegation accompanying me has been kindly invited to this lunch. Led by Foreign Trade Minister Ole Norrback and President Jukka Härmälä of the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers, it has already today met the Ministero for Industry and Energy, Mr. Josep Piqué. On the programme for tomorrow is an important seminar hosted by CEOE, the Confederation of Spanish Industry and Employers. I hope this visit will provide new stimuli for economic cooperation between Finland and Spain, leading to growth not only in ordinary trade, but also in investment. I believe that there is also scope for Finnish and Spanish companies to cooperate in third markets, especially in Latin America.

Just before my trip, Prime Minister Lipponen confirmed that you will be coming to Finland in early March. I bid you warmly welcome. You are, as far as I know, the only head of government of an EU member state who has not yet been in Finland, and therefore we attach special value to your forthcoming visit.

On behalf of all here present, I wish to express my thanks for this excellent lunch. I also wish to propose a toast to your good health, Prime Minister, and that of your wife, to the success of the Spanish Government and people as well as to cooperation between our countries.