Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a promotion and commissioning ceremony for cadets on 4 June 2003

Cadets! I congratulate you on your success in graduating as officers. I hereby promote you to the rank of First Lieutenant and appoint you to positions in the Defence Forces and Frontier Guard.

Young Officers! Finland's security has always been linked to the security of Europe as a whole. As a result of globalization, however, our well-being and security are increasingly dependent on development in other parts of the world.

At the same time the issue of national security has become more complex. Global Problems are increasingly tied to social economic factors and environmental risks. The world has become more efficient but also more vulnerable as a result of new technology. The destabilizing effects of problems spread across national borders like epidemics.

We must be able to meet these new security challenges while continuing to ensure our nation's independence and our society's basic values with the help of international cooperation and a credible national defence.

This broad concept of security is the point of departure for the white paper on security and defence policy that our nation's Government will submit to Parliament this autumn.

The white paper will analyse changes since 2001 that have reshaped our picture of security conditions. On this basis broad policies will be outlined for implementation in different administrative sectors. The purpose is to improve our society's readiness to meet new security challenges, which can extend from terrorism and global epidemics to the vulnerability of our information technology.

Finland's security and defence policy is aimed at ensuring our nation's independence and our society's basic values while promoting citizens' security and wellbeing. Finland's policy is based on a credible national defence, the proper working of society, and a strong international role and activity as a member of the European Union. It includes bearing our share of responsibility for international security and stability as well as peaceful change according to shared values and principles.

The point of departure in developing our national defence will remain military training based on universal conscription. The Defence Forces have investigated how procurements can be directed so as to provide the best preconditions for defending the entire nation.

The Defence Forces have also investigated how obsolete or unserviceable landmines can gradually be replaced without endangering our defence capability. Guidelines for structural and administrative changes in the Defence Forces will also be approved in connection with the white paper.

The goal is to improve the flexibility and response capacity of our defence system so that we can continue to defend our entire nation and ensure the proper working of democratic society in all circumstances. A credible defence capacity is intended to keep security threats from arising.

Finland's future participation in international peacekeeping and crisis management will also be outlined in this connection. We have honourable traditions and a respected position in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Recently we have also participated successfully in EU and NATO crisis management operations.

A new task in the coming years will be participation in developing the European Union's security and defence policy. We will work to strengthen the Union as a security community and international actor whose aim is to increase peace and stability all over the world. Developing the Union's civilian crisis management and military crisis management should be seen as a whole in which the different parts complement each other.

The basis for this cooperation was created during the Finnish EU presidency in 1999 in Helsinki and since then this work has been systematically continued. General Gustav Hägglund, Finland's former Chief of Defence, served as the first chairman of the EU's Military Committee up to this spring. In participating fully in this cooperation we are assuming that cohesion, mutual responsibility and common commitments in the EU will also enhance Finland's security.

Young officers! Finnish officer training is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year. Your graduation is the climax of this special year.

You are now taking responsibility for educating future soldiers and peacekeepers. Training for conscripts and reservists creates a basis for this.

This is not just about whether young women and men in the reserve will be in good physical condition and ready to act in all situations. It is also about whether they will want to defend the values of a Finnish soldier, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Finnish soldiers must also be prepared to defend these values in the right way. Your work as instructors is important, not just with regard to what you teach, but you also serve as an example of military morals. Disregard for moral values and binding international agreements can have serious consequences.

Young officers, on your shoulders lies responsibility for keeping the morals of those you train strong and clean. This is a cornerstone of national defence.

Commandant, directors and teachers of the National Defence College! Finnish officer training is of a high international standard. The National Defence College has responded splendidly to the training challenge presented by a changing world, an evolving society and the increasingly technological character of the Defence Forces. I thank you for a job well done and wish you success in your demanding task.