Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at a banquet hosted by President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Monrovia on 6 March 2009

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On behalf of myself, my husband and the entire delegation, I would like to once more warmly thank you, Madam President, for your invitation to pay a state visit to Liberia. The deepening of our bilateral relations is based on numerous mutual projects, not to mention close personal connections. Hopefully, this visit will create new opportunities to further intensify the relations between our two countries.

Finnish Non-Governmental Organisations are presently engaged in several projects here in Liberia. The Finnish Refugee Council has worked here for a long time, and supported, for example, the youth training centre project. The Women’s Bank has launched two FinnChurchAid projects here. "Women’s Community Income and Empowerment" provides support for mothers clubs and promotes education for girls, and the "Increasing Women’s Knowledge of Their Rights" project is being run in co-operation with the Association of Female Lawyers in Liberia.

Finland is a Member State of the European Union, which provides a solid foundation also for our international activities. I hope that my visit and the International Women's Colloquium, opening tomorrow, will have a positive impact on the development of relations between the south and the north as well as between Liberia and the European Union.

In Finland, we have closely followed your country's development toward peace and stability. Madam President, you have – through your own example – demonstrated how even in the most difficult of circumstances people can find the will and strength to build anew and heal old wounds.

The improved reputation and credibility of your country has led the United Nations to lift the ban on Liberian diamond and forest sectors. I hope that you will work with determination to continue the positive development – with respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

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We Finns support multilateralism and a strong UN. The world organisation is the only global actor in the promotion of peace, security and development. The UN Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals are our common pledge to create a better future for all of us.

A year ago, I participated in the UNCTAD XII in Accra, Ghana. The conference addressed many issues related to the opportunities and challenges facing the developing and developed countries in the complex process that we are used to call as globalization. Regardless of what we might think about globalization, two things are clear: we need to make it fairer and we must to continue our support to the poorest and most unfavourable countries, so that they can reduce poverty and enhance their opportunities to participate in the world economy.

Your country is an important influence and example for the entire Mano River Region. Regional co-operation increases stability, creates a more effective environment for social and economic development, and in many ways increases the mutual interaction between nations.

Liberia is an inspiring example of what women can achieve when working together. Women should be active participants and share the responsibility for planning the future, working for human rights and against violence.

In September of 2008, Finland adopted its national 1325 Action Plan. Its core focus is “women, peace and security”. It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces and say that many of you were present at the launch of the Finnish national plan. In these issues it is first and foremost a question of co-operation and common goals, which do not stop at any country's borders.

I believe that there are many things, which we can affect together and achieve real change – this is not true only in Liberia and Finland, but in every place around the world where women act and influence.

As you know, work to combat climate change is an important issue for us Finns. The challenge we face is mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change and adapting to them. These impacts will most seriously hit the poorest regions of the world, and will often affect particularly the daily lives of women. If we do not recognise the role of women in this respect, efforts to promote sustainable development will fail.

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I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in the next two days at the International Women's Colloquium. And perhaps even more to see what new direction our common initiative and cross-border action will take us. I believe that we are beginning a process that will carry far into the future.

Madam President, I would like propose a toast to You, to the prosperity and health of the Liberian people and to the friendship between our countries.