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 Mexico’s 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 Kahlo’s 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.