SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A DINNER IN HOFBURG, VIENNA, MARCH 7, 1995

May I thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of my wife and myself, not only for your kind and thoughtful words but also for giving us this opportunity to renew our acquaintance with Austria and Vienna.

Splendid settings, whether at the Staatsoper or the Hofburg, remind us that Austria is the guardian of a major share of the European cultural heritage. An imperial past can indeed have advantages for a republic.

This is a historic year in more than one sense. On the one hand our two countries have taken a momentous step by joining the European Union. This gives us reason to look ahead with confidence and positive expectations.

But this is also a year of remembrance of some of the most tragic events that have ever taken place in Europe. Fifty years have elapsed since the end of the Second World War. When we mark this bitter anniversary, we have no reason to be its captives, but rather to build on experience gained. A more stable and secure Europe is emerging.

After the war, our countries were faced with economic devastation and political uncertainties. That was the starting point for national reconstruction and for creating a new international order. The year 1945 saw the birth of the United Nations Organization, which both of our countries could join ten years later. That delay did not depend on us, but rather on the complexities of the post-war situation.

The constructive and consistent role of Finland and Austria as neutral countries in post-war Europe is well known. Helsinki and Vienna became household names as venues for European and global negotiations on security and disarmament. Helsinki became a symbol of the CSCE process, which created a foundation for European transition; Vienna is known as one of the UN capitals of the world.

The end of the Cold War signified the collapse of communism and military confrontation. With it coincided the emergence of the European Community as the undisputed centre of gravity for European development. We Finns have seen membership of the European Union as the best means of influencing the future development of our continent. I understand that you here in Austria see it in much the same way.

Finland's policy of military non-alliance and maintenance of a credible, independent defence has for decades been a stabilizing factor in northern Europe. This is also a relevant notion as we look into the future. We do not, however, preclude security policy options. Finland approaches the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference with an open and constructive mind.

Mr. President

We highly appreciated your working visit to Finland in 1993 which you managed to make less than a year after your inauguration. It has taken me only slightly longer to reciprocate - a year and a week in fact. A working visit like this is a pleasant and efficient way of comparing notes and sharing experiences.

Our bilateral relations are excellent. As new members of the European Union, Finland and Austria have entered a new era in their bilateral relations, too. A new kind of partnership has emerged. We have all reasons to draw maximum benefit out of it.

May I propose a toast to your personal health and well- being, to the prosperity of Austria and its people and to cooperation between our two countries in the construction of a new Europe.