Translation

REPLY BY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC MARTTI AHTISAARI TO THE PRIME MINISTER, March 1, 1994

Mr Prime Minister,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank you for your kind words. I would also like to thank you for the constructive comments you made in your speech about my previous work and future objectives.

Effective government always and under all circumstances requires constructive interaction and co-operation between the President of the Republic, the Government and Parliament. For my own part, I am prepared to assure that this will be the case.

Mr. Prime Minister, you have supported functional parliamentarism. This has been the approach of my distinguished predecessor, President Koivisto and it is also my approach. It is desirable that governments enjoying the support of a parliamentary majority serve for the entire term.

Finland has a multi-party system. The traditional ideological bipolarity is disappearing here in Finland, too, and not just in world politics. The recent direct presidential elections helped establish a less partisan way of thinking.

In modern society, a wide range of opinion that will create new challenges is emerging. Citizens seek values that support life, and a stable world view. Interaction between political decision-makers and citizens must be above board and close. Government officials must be civil servants in the true sense of the term, not remote bureaucrats.

In their actions, government officials must be able to reflect the fundamental values held by citizens - fairness, hard work and integrity. In this respect we in Finland receive relatively high marks by international standards.

With respect to the general standard of integrity and fairness in our society, it is essential that citizens be justified in maintaining confidence in the market economy and in the ability and honesty of those running it.

Our faith in the future must be restored: first and foremost, our faith that society is based on principles of fairness.

Mr Prime Minister,

Your Government has served during a period fraught with problems. The economy has been plagued by severe structural crisis and major challenges confront our international position.

I have been pleased to note that you, too, have stressed the importance of unity as a vital condition for a small nation like Finland. Consensus of this kind has to be strengthened, particularly now, when we must put an end to mass unemployment and establish our relationship with the European Union.

With these words, I would like to wish you every success in fulfilling your weighty responsibilities and achieving the best for Finland.