SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
FINLAND,
MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A FUNCTION IN MEXICO CITY HALL ON
22.2.1999
I thank you personally and the Government of the Distrito
Federal for the great honour of having been named Huésped
Distinguido of the capital city of this great nation. My
warmest thanks also for the cordial sentiments that you have
expressed about me and my country.
The history of Mexico City is an important part of the history of
humankind. It was in this place that the Aztecs founded their
flourishing island city Tenochtitlán in 1321 after they had seen
an omen from their god, an eagle sitting on a nopal cactus with a
snake in its beak. These symbols are now combined in the
coat-of-arms of the United Mexican States.
The Aztecs capital city was one of the most magnificent
metropolises of its era. Fortunately, archaeological research has
enabled its history to be described with great accuracy. In
autumn 1997 we Finns had a unique opportunity to see the
exhibition "The Feathered Serpent and the Jaguar God",
which featured artefacts created by advanced Mesoamerican
cultures. The pieces in the exhibition were on loan from numerous
institutions, including the National Museum of Anthropology and
the Templo Mayor Museum. The exhibition was the biggest of its
kind that had been arranged in Europe for decades and in Finland
prompted great interest in Mexicos rich cultural heritage.
Mexico City is now one of the biggest and most fascinating
metropolises in the world. Proud of its history, it lives every
day to the full as it confidently builds its future. A city with
over 20 million inhabitants inevitably has problems. However, the
administration that you lead has very purposefully set about
seeking solutions that will improve the wellbeing of the
inhabitants of your capital.
I have had the opportunity to visit Mexico City earlier. Now I am
especially pleased to be able to return here as the first
President of Finland to pay a state visit to your country.
Finland and Mexico are united in a solid friendship and
cooperation, which this visit of mine is intended to further
strengthen and diversify. The rapid development of transport
facilities and information technology has largely eliminated the
geographical distance between our countries. Growing tourism is
bringing our peoples closer to each other. Trade between us
likewise means that we have more and more contact with and
knowledge of each other.
In my view, active and diverse cultural exchanges are more
important than any other factor in uniting our peoples. In this
respect, our capital cities play a central role. Two years ago,
the people of Helsinki could enjoy an exhibition of Frida
Kahlos powerful and dramatic paintings, most of which were
on loan from the Dolores Olmedo Museum. I am very pleased that at
the same museum we can now show Mexican art-lovers paintings by
our renowned Sam Vanni. An exhibition of works by Outi Heiskanen
will be opened at Museo Nacional de la Estampa during my visit.
Both exhibitions have been put together from the collections of
the Helsinki City Art Museum
Let me thank you once again for the kindness and admirable
hospitality with which we have today been received in this
magnificent and beautiful city. I am proud to accept the Keys of
the City and am convinced that they are intended to open every
door to friendship between the people of Mexico and Finland.
I wish you and through you the inhabitants of Mexico City the
very best of success and happiness.