Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a promotion and commissioning ceremony for cadets on 3 June 2005

I congratulate you on completing your officer training. I hereby promote you to the rank of First Lieutenant and appoint you to positions in the Defence Forces and the Frontier Guard.

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The line of action of Finland's Security and Defence Policy is aimed at safeguarding the country's independence and society's fundamental democratic values and at promoting the security and welfare of all citizens. Finland's line of action is based on a credible national defence, the functioning of society, a strong international position and active participation as a member of the European Union. Sharing in the responsibility for international security and stability and peaceful change in line with shared values and principles is an integral part of Finland's policy.

We promote our security above all by implementing our foreign and security policy, but the Defence Forces have an important role here, too. They look after the defence of Finland and the Finnish people and further the protection of the functions of a democratic society in all circumstances.

Security policy is largely preventive by nature. Having a credible defence capability is part and parcel of our security policy, and it is our job to develop our Defence Forces so that they will continue to fulfil this requirement.

Our defence is based on general conscription. It has been a very effective, fair system that has the widespread support of the whole nation. The vast majority of those who are of call-up age perform their military service. This gives the Defence Forces the opportunity to enlist a wide range of well-educated young people who in time will become top-quality reservists with an inside knowledge of different sectors of society.

The Decree on voluntary military service for women has been in force for ten years. During this period, over 3,000 women have completed military service. The number is not great, but from the point of view of equality it is important. The experience we have of voluntary military service for women is good. Women are extremely motivated, and they are selected for leadership training and for specialist duties more often than men. Not only that, the entry of women into military service has improved team spirit in the barracks.

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As training officers in the Defence Forces, it will be your duty to give recruits, both men and women, sound basic training. You will be laying the foundation on which subsequent training will be built. You will be creating the spirit and the practice that will enable the military to perform their duties at home and abroad. I am confident that your officer training and your own personal skills will help you to acquit yourself with distinction in these demanding duties.

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Finland has been taking part in peacekeeping operations since 1956. To date, over 45,000 Finns have been involved in peacekeeping duties. At this very moment, there are 850 Finns on duty in a dozen or so operations in different parts of the world.

Crisis management duties are important for maintaining peace and security throughout the world, and thus Finland participates in these operations too. Our involvement helps to promote the security of Finland. The idea is to subdue and contain crises. Taking part in international duties boosts the performance of our troops and improves our defence at home.

Finland is in the process of reforming the legislation on crisis management to respond to today's circumstances, including our contribution to the European Union’s rapid response forces. The general rule will still apply that the participation of Finland in international crisis management operations will depend on a mandate from the UN Security Council.

It is possible that in the future Finland could take part in a crisis management operation without Security Council authorization in exceptional circumstances. The requirement for such participation would be that the purpose of the operation were to maintain or restore international peace and security, to provide support for humanitarian aid work or to protect the civilian population, taking the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and any other relevant points of international law into account. Let us not forget that developing the EU rapid response force is a matter of developing crisis management, not military operations.

Besides the mandate issue, the idea is to overhaul the rules of engagement concerning Finnish crisis management troops and individual peacekeepers.

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International duties are increasingly becoming an important part of an officer's career. I hope that you will all keep an open mind regarding opportunities to take part in crisis management duties.

Principal and staff of the National Defence College!

I want to thank you for your excellent work. You have demonstrated once again that officer training in Finland is of a high international standard. In your training and leadership activities, you have provided these junior officers with a model for attainment in their demanding careers as officers.

I wish you every success in your duties.