Translation

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MR MARTTI AHTISAARI TO PARLIAMENT, MARCH 1, 1994

Madame Speaker,

Members of the Parliament of Finland,

Having been chosen President of the Republic in a direct popular election, and having given the solemn oath required by the constitution, I now undertake to fulfil the duties of President of the Republic during the coming term of office.

I feel great humility before the responsibility that exercise of the office of the President of the Republic imposes on me. I shall carry out the constitutional duties of the President to the best of my ability, in co-operation with Parliament and with a Government enjoying its confidence.

I would like to thank you, Madame Speaker, for your congratulatory remarks, and I would like to concur with your thoughts about the tasks confronting us. I would in particular hope that citizens, to the greatest extent possible, would take part - and could take part in a common effort for the good of our country.

In accepting the duties of President of the Republic, I would like to express from my heart and in the name of the people my warm gratitude to my respected predecessor, President Mauno Koivisto, for the great contribution he has made to Finnish and international security.

President Koivisto, under your leadership Finland has succeeded in consolidating its international position at a time when the long division of Europe came at last to an end. You have demonstrated boldness and determination in the face of major choices of far-reaching significance. Although uncertainty continues to prevail in the international community, the position of Finland has developed favourably. For this I am extremely grateful to you, for your work will provide an excellent foundation for my own efforts.

You have given your support to parliamentarism, to strengthening its rules. Your contribution in this respect is historic. You are leaving a ship of state with a firmly democratic keel.

I would also like to express my gratitude to you, Mrs Koivisto. You have done your work in an exemplary manner, and for this you deserve the undivided appreciation of the Finnish nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Efficient government always requires the closest possible co-operation between the President, Parliament and the Council of State, and I shall strive to see that such co-operation exists.

The President of the Republic must be a cohesive political force. We Finns understand that a small nation is strong only when unified. In a pluralistic society, consensus can be reached solely through open discussion and by observing the principles of the social contract.

Direct presidential elections have altered the nature of our political life and enhanced democracy. I would like to develop the position and duties of the President so that significance of the new electoral system would best serve the interests of the entire nation.

I am taking up the duties of President of the Republic in a situation characterized by economic uncertainty and above all mass unemployment. It will be a long time before economic growth makes significant inroads into unemployment.

We are now in the fourth consecutive year of intolerably high unemployment. During my election campaign I observed the desperation that afflicts broad segments of the population due to lost jobs and declining living standards. Unemployment is severe in sectors where the labour force is overwhelmingly female. Unemployment threatens the equilibrium of families. It affects our children. We must have the will and courage to introduce the special measures needed to crush unemployment.

To a large extent, the economic policy pursued in our country during the last couple of years has merely coped with a series of urgent problems. We should, however, be wary of the belief that there is only one alternative, only one road ahead of us.

We need broad political co-operation to end the depression and create new jobs. Human dignity must be the basis for a new policy of consensus. We must make sure that those of our fellow citizens who are in a less fortunate position do not lose faith in the future. As many members of our society are confronted by severe difficulties through no fault of their own, this is not the right time to dismantle the support systems developed for situations of this kind.

I know that Finns want balanced development in which the Nordic ideals of equality and social justice are realized. But rather than being a watchful big brother, the state should be a partner - a guarantor of security and opportunity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the constitution prescribes, the primary duty of the President of the Republic is to conduct relations with foreign states. I shall fulfil my duties with respect to foreign and security policy in co-operation with the Council of State and Parliament.

The environment of our foreign and security policy has changed drastically in recent years, and the process is by no means over. This poses new challenges for us, and many of them can best be met by working closely together with other countries.

Our own economic well-being has become more dependent on the world economy, and is sensitive to the extremely sudden changes in it. Our well-being, both material and non-material, therefore depends greatly on a healthy world economy.

Maintaining good relations with neighbouring states is the sensible goal of any country's foreign policy. Relations with the Nordic countries, Russia and the Baltic States form the functioning basis of our foreign relations.

We Finns, who have earned our independence in hard-fought wars, understand how important it is to constantly reinforce the foundations of security. This is in fact more a matter of opening gates than building fences.

A new system of security replacing the former has not yet been developed after the disappearance of political blocs in Europe. For Finland, prevention of a new division is crucial. A European order of security based on co-operation and interdependence will offer greater promise. Building closer ties of this kind in Europe is perhaps the most important challenge to our country's foreign policy in the 1990s.

Enlargement of the European Union is evidence that these ties are being further strengthened. We are part of this process. It promotes our national well-being and security.

Membership of the European Union is an opportunity for us. Through the European Union, we Finns wish to prevent fences from being built and to help open closed gates. In seizing this opportunity, we shall rely on our Nordic values. It is our hope that all the Nordic applicants - Finland, Sweden and Norway - will eventually become members of the Union.

In Finland, a thorough assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of membership must be made before the referendum. The result of the negotiations will be a significant factor with respect to the formation of public opinion. As many citizens as possible should formulate a considered position on membership. As President of the Republic, I shall do everything in my power to ensure that membership of the European Union does not divide our nation.

Madame Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I seek to base my work on the principles of solidarity, justice, openness and co-operation.

We Finns enjoy a good reputation. We are trusted, and our persistence is recognized. We do not give in, and will not in the present circumstances. Instead, we shall look to the future with confidence. A better tomorrow already looms beyond the mountains we still have to cross. Let that be the day when Finns are again convinced that our own beloved country is the best place for us to live and build the future.

In taking up the duties of President of the Republic, I hope that I will have your support for my efforts and also that of the entire Finnish nation. I will attempt to fulfil my duties with all my strength, in the best way I know how, with the good fortune and success of the Finnish people as my sole objective.

May God bless our country and our people.