Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at the Celebration of 90 years of American-Finnish Diplomatic Relations at the University of Helsinki on 6 May 2009

Finnish-US Diplomatic Relations - celebrating 90 years

It is a great pleasure to attend this event celebrating 90 years of our diplomatic relations. It was important for the young Republic of Finland that it was recognized by the United States in 1919. Diplomatic relations were formally established later that year.

Cooperation between our peoples goes back much farther than that: some of our ancestors left Finland and arrived in Delaware as early as the 1630s. In the late 19th and early 20th century, hundreds of thousands of Finns crossed the Atlantic to seek a better life in the United States.

It is a fascinating story about people and their will to be masters of their own life. But, ladies and gentlemen, I have promised to leave the historical overview in the caring hands of Mr. Torstila. I will limit myself to commenting on how this historical cooperation is seen today both in Finland and in the USA.

Last summer, I attended the FinnFest in Duluth, Minnesota. That and other similar events show that Finnish-American culture is strong and well respected. The Finnish language is not the only link: there is something else that keeps Finnish-American societies alive. It is not only about the famous Finnish “sisu” but a much broader understanding of culture – of an individual and of a community - and how culture contains a broad variety of different elements. This is a challenge that we all face in the modern multicultural world.

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Finland joined the United Nations in 1955. Membership strengthened the position of a small country in international politics. The UN soon became an essential part of our foreign policy. During the Cold War period, the policy of neutrality served us well in a divided Europe. Finland also started to play a more active role in international issues. We started to cherish more and more multilateralism – like our Nordic sister countries. Since the Suez crisis in the fifties, our country has sent tens of thousands of peacekeeping troops as well as civilian experts to crisis areas.

Both big and small countries need multilateralism. The Conference on Security and Cooperation, which was held in Helsinki in 1975, became an important landmark for European security. It also made human rights a legitimate subject of broader European cooperation. Last year, Finland held the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In spite of criticism concerning the OSCE, it has proved to be a useful tool for crisis management – as in Georgia – and for promoting discussion on the future of European security.

All organisations need, from time to time, to go through reforms in order to maintain their efficiency, but this should be seen in a positive manner. Discussions concerning the efficient role of the OSCE also continue.

The OSCE Foreign Ministers discussed President Medvedev`s proposal on the future of Euro-Atlantic security at their working lunch in December in Helsinki. But we have not had too much concreteness about the issue. I am glad that President Medvedev agreed to speak about his proposal in public during his state visit to Finland. I think that his speech two weeks ago at the University of Helsinki provided further elements to this debate.

Throughout the difficult years when Europe was divided, the United States played a crucial role in supporting democracy in Europe. The contribution of the US to democratic development in our continent has been remarkable. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation is still very important for European countries and for Europe.

Finland joined the European Union fourteen years ago, and we consider the Union as a natural home of like-minded countries. Cooperation between the European Union and the US is important for us.

War is an exception and peace must be the main rule. The importance of normal relations, based on cooperation in civilian matters, should be acknowledged more in our mutual dialogue and in the media, too. Promoting international trade, the role of the WTO, research and innovation as well as collaboration in the areas of the environment and development cooperation are more and more important elements of transatlantic relations.

The European Union and the United States should continue to cooperate closely to pave the way for recovery based on sound, long-term measures. We should keep in mind that the welfare of people goes hand in hand with the welfare of nature. Markets alone cannot guide us into a green recovery.

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Globalization has changed the world in many ways, bringing nations, businesses and people closer together. The current economic crisis is a clear example of this. In order to solve huge common challenges, both leadership and cooperation are needed.

This is clear also with many other issues. Climate change, energy security, regional conflicts, nuclear proliferation and pandemics – these are all common challenges that call for global cooperation.

President Barack Obama has taken a very active role in global issues and in seeking cooperation with other countries. In his meeting with European Union leaders a month ago in Prague, his message was fresh and impressive. He seemed to have a very cooperative attitude. And this is needed. Closer transatlantic cooperation is very important. It is time to move forward in relations between the European Union and the United States. We face common challenges and we must seek common solutions.

Finland supports multilateralism and a strong United Nations. I am pleased that the United States is placing more emphasis on the work done at the UN and other multilateral organisations. As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, it bears special responsibility for international peace and security – together with Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom.

President Obama's vision for a world free of nuclear weapons is a welcome sign of ideas in disarmament. The strong leadership of the United States is needed to proceed in nuclear disarmament. Equally, it is positive that President Medvedev, in his speech in Helsinki, responded to this approach. I truly hope that these leaders of a new generation can find each other and can engage in constructive cooperation.

The commitment of both the United States and Russia to rapidly conclude a new agreement to reduce strategic nuclear weapons would mean a crucial contribution to nuclear disarmament and to increased global security.

The Democratic Party in the US has already earlier shown a strong interest in global issues and especially in combating climate change. Former Vice President Al Gore and the UN Panel on Climate Change were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. There were great expectations in the air regarding President Obama and his administration. And now positive signs are already in sight in practical politics. It is a most welcome message that the United States is committed to step up efforts in combating climate change. We need to work together to convince other countries – industrialized countries as well as emerging economies – to participate in the post-2012 arrangements, which will be agreed at the Copenhagen Climate Summit next December.

The United States and Europe have worked hard for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We have also worked side by side in many military crisis management operations. And this must continue. At the meeting with the EU Member States, President Obama stressed the need to do more in Afghanistan. We do share a common challenge. Finland is committed to international efforts to improve the situation in Afghanistan by participating in military and civilian crisis management as well as development funding.

We are doing this for the democratic future of Afghanistan. Women and girls are part of that future. The human rights of Afghan women and girls are an acute challenge. Practices that violate their rights are not acceptable. Equal access to education for women and girls is key to social development, and Finland is also ready to help in this.

Efforts are under way to put the Middle East Peace Process back on track. Progress in the negotiations would be important not only for Israel and Palestine but for the whole region. At the Alliance of Civilizations meeting in Istanbul a month ago, in which I had the pleasure to participate, President Obama’s message on the dialogue between the West and the Islamic world was very well received.

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Stressing the importance of multilateral partnerships does not underestimate the importance of bilateral ties. The objective of developing further bilateral relations with the United States is very dear to us Finns. Old friends have strong ties, but we should always be looking for new opportunities to cooperate. Both countries invest a lot in research and technological development. Our research and innovation communities have much to offer to each other.

Our economic relations are part of extensive transatlantic economic links. The European Union and the United States form a huge market of 850 million people and 60% of the world market. The United States is one of Finland’s main trade partners and the biggest export market outside Europe. A recent example of US investments in Finland is Google's decision to have one of its global bases in Kotka.

Student exchange programmes, such as the ASLA Fulbright Program, have had a positive effect on our relations. Thousands of Finnish students and researchers have studied in American universities and high schools. I hope that we will also be able to attract more young Americans to study in Finland.

Cultural exchanges between our countries are also very lively. It is well known how popular the music and films produced in the United States are among the Finns. But Finland is also an exporter of classical and popular music, modern design, architecture and modern dance to the United States.

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Commemorating the past 90 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and the United States gives us an opportunity to study and assess these relations. It also allows us to celebrate the fact that our countries and peoples have always been very close to each other. I am convinced that the future will bring us even closer.