Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at a banquet hosted by President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade in Dakar on 4 March 2009

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On my own and my husband’s behalf and on behalf of the whole delegation, I would like to warmly thank you Mr President, for your invitation to visit Senegal. Almost exactly 40 years have passed since the previous visit of a Finnish President to your country. President Urho Kekkonen made a private visit to your country in January 1969, and the then President of Senegal, Mr Leopold Senghor, made official visits to Finland in 1970 and 1973, a generation ago.

Much has happened since then. Finland has become a Member State of the European Union. The EU wants to promote and strengthen its cooperation with African countries and with the African Union. The strategy adopted at the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in 2007 provides a frame for further deepening the relations between the two continents.

The relationship between the EU and Senegal also creates a strong framework for our countries’ bilateral cooperation. The EU is an important economic and development partner for your country. Finland also supports various NGO projects in Senegal.

Our countries are united by a strong wish to act for peace and security. In today’s globalized world, people’s security and well-being are indivisible. We all have joint responsibility for furthering them. In this work, the United Nations is our most important forum for cooperating.

Senegal has practised a systematic policy of peace, and you yourself, Mr President, have been active in this matter. As a mark of recognition you were awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize in 2005, the same prize which was awarded last year to my predecessor, President Martti Ahtisaari.

As the country holding the chairmanship of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, OIC, Senegal has been active to enhance dialogue between cultures and religions. In an OIC Summit held a year ago, you, Mr President, said that the age of Crusades and Holy Wars is in the past. This is something we can all agree on. Multilateral interaction presupposes that we respect the diversity of cultures and religions. The “Alliance of Civilizations” initiative set up by the UN Secretary General aims to encourage a dialogue between the Western countries and the Islamic world. I had the pleasure and privilege of participating in the first high-level meeting of the Alliance in Madrid in January last year.

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The international food crisis and the rising prices of food have affected all countries of the world. The rising costs are felt especially acutely in the developing countries. The rise in food prices is a serious threat to the achievement of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and support for sustainable development. Resolving the food crisis and overcoming hunger are common challenges which can best be addressed by multilateral cooperation. In addition, the global economic crisis has triggered a course of development that has effects on us all.

The global world has also given us new opportunities for cooperation. Our challenge is to turn globalisation into a positive force, which will promote justice, decent work, growth and sustainable development everywhere in the world. Its benefits must be shared more equally among and within nations. This was also the starting point for the work of the ILO World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, which I had the honour of chairing together with the then President of Tanzania, Mr Benjamin Mkapa.

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Senegal’s first President Senghor, also a renowned poet, once said that all culture is universal and that different cultures are complementary to one another. African culture has also enriched Finnish cultural life. The modern Senegalese cinema has shaped the way we see your country. For example, films by the Senegalese film director Ousmane Sembéne, have been shown in Finland and the director has also visited our country.

Senegal is the cradle of Western African music. Senegalese and Finnish musicians have cooperated for many years. For example, Finnish musician Sakari Kukko, when he lived in Dakar, played in the group led by Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour. Another example is the Galaxy ensemble, made up of Senegalese musicians living in Finland, which is one of Europe’s most highly appreciated performers of mbalax music.

While I am visiting here in West Africa, I am honoured to chair, together with President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the International Women’s Colloquium to be held in Monrovia. We hope that the results of the Colloquium will be reflected not only in Liberia, but in the whole of Africa and also universally.

The world needs to use all its resources in order to ensure positive development. Promoting the position of women is essential in reducing poverty. Improving women’s education, income and status is reflected directly in the improved well-being of families and the whole society.

Finland focuses on human rights in bilateral discussions, and within the framework of the EU and the UN. Human rights are meant for everyone – men and women, girls and boys.

Mr President, I would like to propose a toast to you and your wife, to the well-being and happiness of the Senegalese people and to closer cooperation between our two countries.