Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at a Banquet commemorating the Year 1809 in Stockholm on 15 January 2009

(check against delivery)

The unique relationship between Finland and Sweden is well illustrated by the warm words of welcome from Your Majesty and by the gathering of all of us here today in Stockholm. It is worth reflecting what we wish to recall and address by commemorating the Year 1809. Runeberg, one of our most important Swedish-speaking poets, says in the Tales of Ensign Stål: ”We mustn’t dwell on sad memories”.

General von Döbeln, in his farewell speech to his troops in Umeå market square on 8 October 1809, said he was convinced that Finns would never become enemies of their Swedish motherland. He urged to remain its friend for all time. His words have come true. Today, relations between Finland and Sweden are exceptionally diverse and close. Nordic cooperation is a natural extension of this.

The Year 1809 reminds us that for more than 600 years Sweden and Finland were one kingdom. This has contributed to Finland today being a democratic Nordic welfare state. The Finnish identity and society started to take shape already during Swedish rule. Mikael Agricola developed standard Finnish and the expression: ”own language, own mind” was important to many Finnish speakers.

In 1809, Finland’s future was looking uncertain. The road leading to independence was long, and the struggle to retain it hard. Today Finland and Sweden are among the most advanced countries in the world. We both participate in international cooperation with the same preconditions and objectives. Our countries have succeeded well since the difficult year of 1809.

This commemorative year also encourages us to look into the future. How can we best develop and exploit the relations between Finland and Sweden? Cooperation still has to be strengthened in the field of research and development, and student and research exchange could be increased. We are now closer to each other in terms of security policy and we both benefit from defence policy cooperation. We could also further enhance cooperation in the economic field.

It would be important to pay attention to the Year 1809 in order to increase the interest of citizens and especially schoolchildren in becoming familiar with our closest neighboring country. This requires that Swedish culture is cherished in Finland and Finnish culture in Sweden. In this respect, our countries can lead the way in Europe.

Finally, I would further like to point out that we are also united by a close relationship with nature. Future generations must be able to enjoy living forests and clean lakes. This applies in particular to the Baltic Sea, which has been and will always be our shared sea. However, in order to save the Baltic Sea resolute international environmental cooperation is needed in which Finland and Sweden must be in the forefront.


* * *

One hundred years ago, in 1909, it was not, for natural reasons, possible to observe the Year 1809. But the world has changed, and today we are in a position to commemorate year together, with dignified ceremonies. A poem of Runeberg’s, Brother of the Cloud, ends with a call to look forward ”with hope for the embrace of a new morning”.

I would like to propose a toast to the close relations between our countries and people and to the personal happiness and success of Your Majesties.