SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
FINLAND
MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A RECEPTION HOSTED BY
MAYOR SOLEDAD BECERRIL OF SEVILLE
3 FEBRUARY 1999
I thank you most heartily for the splendid reception that you
have given us here in this magnificent and historical Alcázar
Palace.
I also express my thanks for the Golden Key of the city of
Seville that has been presented to me and which I shall cherish
as a memento of this visit.
It is said that one cannot know Spain without knowing Seville.
When the programme for my visit to this country was being
planned, I specifically requested the opportunity to come here. I
am happy and grateful that my wish was fulfilled.
We have a unique programme here. In addition to this remarkable
palace it includes a visit to one of the most outstanding
achievements of European ecclesiastical architecture, Seville
Cathedral, your famous art museum - one of the finest in Spain
and indeed the whole of Europe - as well as the General Archives
of the Indies, which is unique in the whole world.
We can likewise see for ourselves how Seville has preserved
magnificent buildings and monuments from various periods. This
has been done with great piety and combined with modern urban
construction without violating the work of earlier generations.
The people of the city and their leaders deserve congratulations
for that.
The World Championships in Athletics will take place here next
August. Sport has always had an important position in Finnish
society. It used to be said that great athletes like Paavo Nurmi
and Hannes Kolehmainen ran our unknown country onto the map of
the world in the early decades of this century. We cannot boast
of quite the same calibre of athletes at the moment, but I can
promise you that our men and women will give a good account of
themselves here. And I will not be the only Finn whose thoughts
are in Seville then.
I wish you, Madame Mayor, the administration of the city of
Seville and its inhabitants continuing success.