Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the opening of the 192nd national defence course on 25 January 2010

Our concept of security and threats to it has changed considerably in the past two decades. Security has been more clearly understood as a broad whole. In addition to military preparedness it includes preparedness for many types of contingencies in our common life, whose management requires cooperation among all parts of society.

On the basis of our Nordic social model, interdependence and the recognition of mutual responsibility that is built on it are familiar to us. Interdependence and shared responsibility have grown as a result of internationalization. Things that happen elsewhere affect the functioning of our society. On the other hand our international relations and membership in different organizations commit us to cooperation with other countries. This is give and take.

The principle of total defence is also visible in national defence courses. The wide scope of the course programme and above all the broad range of participants' expertise emphasize that dealing with crises and preparing for crisis management are up to society as a whole.

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Finland is still a secure country. Nevertheless, we must constantly take care of our security, considering changes in our own country as well as global development. Security affects us all, and ensuring it requires broad cooperation. For this reason it is key to have as broad a consensus as possible concerning the development of Finnish security.

To ensure this consensus, which has also been criticized, different mechanisms have been developed over the years. Government Security and Defence Policy Reports have been prepared since 1995. I acknowledge my own part in this: I have been involved in preparing all of them either as Minister for Foreign Affairs or as President.

From the beginning these reports have been based on a broad concept of security. The latest report was completed last year. It notes that Finland does not face the threat of military pressure or the use of force unless this is part of some broader international conflict. Finland's security is based on our own foreign policy, international cooperation, national preparedness and a credible defence.

A credible defence requires the will to defend our country. The starting point is general conscription, effective training, a well-planned troop structure and the necessary weapons systems to defend the whole country. Building and maintaining these requires very long-term work.

The report pointed to general conscription as an area that needs to be developed. Accordingly a commission has been appointed to study the functioning of conscription and its social impacts.

When the report was being prepared I thought it was important that alongside the development of military service, consideration should be given to the development of alternative service. The objective of both forms of service is to improve our society's crisis preparedness. I hope that this can be studied with an open mind. Both international and national threats are such that it could beneficial for instance to combine training in the initial stage, after which military and alternative service would proceed separately.

On the basis of the most recent Security and Defence Policy Report a committee has also been established with the task of preparing a comprehensive report on our society's preparedness for different contingencies or crises. Currently we also have the national Strategy for Securing the Functions Vital to Society and a committee responsible for work in this area.

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During this course you will learn more about threats to broad security. In addition to armed conflicts these include extreme poverty, terrorism, contagious diseases, the disruption of functions that are vital to society, such as the distribution of electricity and communications networks, and natural disasters. International cooperation has become a regular part of responding to these threats - as in the Southeast Asian tsunami five years ago or the earthquake in Haiti two weeks back, to mention the worst natural disasters.

Over the longer term we must also be prepared for crises resulting from global warming and its consequences: rising sea levels, increased storms, drought, lower food production and famine. At the Copenhagen Climate Conference last month, the international community set the objective of mitigating climate change, but unfortunately an agreement could not be reached on burden sharing. Achieving an agreement is absolutely important, but in any case we must be prepared for an increase in extreme phenomena related to climate change and their consequences.

Military security's traditional threat of international wars has also had to be revised. Military conflicts are increasingly internal, although their regional or global effects can be significant.

With crises becoming more multi-dimensional, attention must also be paid to our peacekeepers' training. Soldiers have to participate not only in preventing hostilities but also in supporting crisis societies' own security systems - particularly in the form of training - and protecting civilians.

This triple approach or "hybrid war" means that those involved in military crisis management must be prepared for different kinds of tasks. Finland's participation in crisis management is part of building our own security and bearing international responsibility. I myself have thought - sometimes out loud - that we should evaluate our own expertise more thoroughly before we send our troops to crisis areas. We must have a clear idea about what tasks Finnish soldiers are best suited to perform.

In addition to military tasks, crisis management also includes the many functions of civilian crisis management, development cooperation and the tools of long-term society building. It is not enough for international aid to cover only the acute stage of a crisis. Aid should extend to the broad-scale support of social structures. I believe that Finland particularly has expertise and can make a contribution in improving the position of women and girls.

Finnish peacekeepers are presently participating in operations led by the UN, EU and NATO in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan and Africa. Our partners in practical work in the field are often the other Nordic countries or NATO Partnership for Peace countries such as Ireland.

Afghanistan is a timely example of international cooperation and Finland's efforts to approach a crisis in a comprehensive way. We do not want simply to increase the number of soldiers but also to strengthen civilian and development aid to the country. I am sure that our success in this will also be discussed by you during this course.

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In both national and international politics it is necessary to resolve crises, but it would be better if we could avoid them. The economy has great significance for broader social development. The world is still dealing with the financial crisis. International development suggests that key actors need to be reevaluated. The tectonic plates of global politics are moving. The significance of the Asian countries and particularly China has grown, so that Asia is already viewed as the second key global actor in addition to the United States.

At the same time the reference groups in multilateral activity are being reshaped. The G-8 group of eight leading industrialized countries has already been replaced in practice by the larger Group of Twenty (G-20), which includes the leading developing countries as well. The Group of Twenty has been able to agree on measures to respond to the global financial crisis.

Nevertheless, the most important "G" is the G-192, which means that the key forum for multilateral cooperation must remain the United Nations. Its Security Council has primary responsibility in international peace and security issues.

Being a member of the European Union strengthens Finland's security, and Finland is strongly committed to the Union's common goals. At the same time we should make sure that our interests are taken into consideration in the Union's decision-making. With the Lisbon Treaty having entered into force, the Union can essentially strengthen its role as an international actor, although foreign and security policy remains an intergovernmental matter - unlike trade policy, for example.

Strengthening regional cooperation is a goal for both the EU and Finland. Promoting stability in northern Europe is a natural priority in Finland's foreign policy. It emphasizes the significance of Nordic cooperation as well as cooperation with Russia and the Baltic countries. "Good relations with our neighbours" are still important words in Finland's foreign policy.

It is important to respond to common challenges through the participation of all countries, whether these problems are political in nature or concern such matters as protecting the Baltic Sea. Next month we will hold a Baltic Sea Summit in Helsinki, where the coastal states along with organizations and businesses are expected to make a commitment to saving our maritime environment.

The stability and security of Finland's neighbouring areas and the entire Baltic Sea region are developing favourably. All the countries in northern Europe are working together bilaterally and in multilateral forums such as the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the EU and the NATO-Russia Council.

Russia's initiative for a legally binding treaty on European security is presently being considered in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Finland is open to proposals that will improve security in the entire OSCE area and at the same time promote the implementation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

As a result of climate change, the Arctic region is expected to attract new interest, which may have economic and security-policy repercussions. Exploiting the region's oil and gas resources and the opening of new transport channels will provide an opportunity for increased cooperation, but competition for natural resources may also lead to conflicts. It is important for Finland to have an arctic policy that emphasizes cooperation among all the countries in the region.

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This winter we are commemorating the end of the Winter War seventy years ago in many different events. It is good to know and remember history. National unity was also decisive then.

In today's globalizing world as well, mutual trust and the will to cooperate are factors that enhance security. They are easiest to build during peacetime. Democracy, human rights, the rule of law, economic stability and social justice create a basis for dealing with exceptional circumstances.

I wish you an interesting and rewarding course and hope you will meet new people.