SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
FINLAND,
MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A BANQUET
HOSTED BY PRESIDENT ERNESTO ZEDILLO OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES
IN MEXICO CITY ON 22.2.1999
Let me begin, Seņor President, by thanking you for the kind
words and expressions of welcome that you have addressed to my
wife and myself personally as well as to the party accompanying
me. I also appreciate the cordial sentiments that you have
expressed about Finland and her people.
It is a pleasure and honour for me to be the first Finnish
President to pay a state visit to Mexico. However, relations
between our countries and peoples go back many decades. Mexico
recognised the young Republic of Finland in July 1920, and a
treaty of friendship between us was signed as long ago as 1936.
On 11 November this year, we shall be celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our
countries. Thus my visit is taking place at a milestone in
history. It demonstrates our governments strong interest in
further developing and deepening our good and unproblematic
relations.
The Finns have a very positive image of Mexico as a country with
a colourful history, strong multicultural roots, a rich heritage
of traditions and a vigorously developing economy. These factors
together with your beautiful scenery are attracting growing
numbers of Finnish tourists to this fascinating country, which we
inhabitants of northern Europe find very exotic. I personally
always associate the name Mexico with a dash of excitement,
because as a young man I used to read popular novels in which the
hero was a Finnish adventurer caught up in the maelstrom of
revolution in Mexico.
Since the Revolution, your country has developed enormously.
Today, Mexico is a rapidly industrialising country, which under
your leadership is strengthening its democratic system so as to
be better able to meet the challenges of our times. Your
Government is also working determinedly to solve the social and
economic problems that still exist in your country.
Mexico has thrown open her economy and foreign trade to
international competition. Our two countries work in good
cooperation within the OECD. Your country has been unswerving in
its efforts to promote political and economic integration in
North and Latin America.
Mexico has traditionally been a prominent actor in international
organisations, especially in efforts to promote disarmament and
combat drugs. During my many years in the service of the United
Nations, I developed a great respect for the constructive way in
which Mexico worked to strengthen the structures of the world
organisation and increase its effectiveness.
Relations between Europe and Latin America rest on a firm
foundation. They are based on shared values and goals, which
include increasing international security, promoting stability
and development in our societies, strengthening democracy, and
safeguarding the fundamental rights of our citizens. When the
European Union members gather in Rio de Janeiro next June for a
historic first summit together with Latin American and Caribbean
countries, we shall have an opportunity to define the shape that
our cooperation will assume as we address these and other global
problems on the threshold of the new millennium. Finland and
Mexico are actively participating in preparations for the summit.
Since it began four years ago, Finlands membership of the
European Union has added further content and liveliness to our
relations with Mexico. We actively support strengthening the
Unions political and economic cooperation with your
country. During our discussions earlier today, you, Seņor
President, were equally emphatic in expressing your determination
to strengthen and further diversify Mexicos relations with
the EU.
The agreement on economic association, political coordination and
cooperation signed in December 1997 provides a solid foundations
for those relations. That Finland was the first country to ratify
the agreement is one indication of our unswerving support for
developing relations with your country.
The EU and Mexico are united in their wish to increase their
mutual trade. The member states of the Union account for only
around 6% of Mexicos foreign trade between them, a figure
that falls far short of the potential. That is why the ongoing
negotiations for a free-trade agreement are so important. When
Finland holds the EU Presidency for the second semester of this
year, we shall make every effort to ensure that a comprehensive
agreement benefiting all parties emerges. Prospects of the
negotiations reaching a successful conclusion and the agreement
being signed before the end of the year are good.
Relations between Finland and Mexico are good and free of
problems. They have become much more lively in recent years, one
reflection of which is the frequency of visits on many levels.
Ambassador Greens visit to Finland last November was a
successful follow-on to our Foreign Minister Halonens visit
to your country a year earlier. Our Europe and Foreign Trade
Minister Norrback, who is a member of my delegation, also visited
Mexico the same year.
Our bilateral trade doubled in both directions last year.
Something that further enhances this positive trend is the fact
that the statistics do not include exports from third countries,
which in our cases are greater than direct exports. Nevertheless,
we have the potential for considerably greater trade and economic
cooperation.
Unlocking this potential is, in fact, one of my most important
goals on this visit. Our governments have made their contribution
by negotiating the agreement on protection and promotion of
investments that was signed today. Together with the agreement
preventing double taxation that has just come into force, it
creates a solid legal foundation for the establishment of
companies and investments. I am also accompanied on this visit by
a high-level industrial and business delegation, the programme of
which includes tomorrows business conference organised
jointly with CEMAI.
Finnish companies interest in Mexico as a trade partner and
investment location has increased. Tangible proof of this will be
seen when two new Finnish production facilities are inaugurated
in Reynosa and Monterrey during this visit. These factories
represent the sector that is growing fastest in our relations:
telecommunications and electronics.
We have today also agreed to increase our cooperation in managing
and exploiting your countrys vast forest resources. There
is already a long tradition of cooperation between us in the
forestry sector. I also see great opportunities for our countries
to cooperate in the fields of energy management, materials
handling and environmental technology.
Culture is an important source of creativity and energy in both
of our countries. Thus it is natural for cultural exchange to
feature so prominently in our relations. In the past couple of
years we in Finland have been privileged to enjoy some of the
vitality and diversity of Mexican culture. The impressive
exhibition "The Feathered Serpent and the Jaguar God"
introduced us to some of the finest artefacts produced by
advanced Mesoamerican cultures. The items were on loan from
Mexican and Guatemalan museums. The exhibition attracted record
numbers of visitors, as did another presenting Frida Kahlos
powerful art. My wife and I have been looking forward with
special interest to our visit to Oaxaca, where we shall have an
opportunity to see some of your countrys most important
archaeological monuments.
Finland, in turn, has presented her culture to Mexico in the
forms of dance, music and painting. Two art exhibitions are being
opened here during my visit. This evenings concert
featuring Finnish and Mexican opera singers aptly symbolises our
cultural cooperation.
On behalf of my delegation, I warmly thank you and your wife for
the magnificent hospitality that you have accorded us. I would
now like to propose a toast to friendship between our countries,
the good fortune and happiness of the Mexican people and your
personal health.