Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a banquet hosted by President Valdas Adamkus and Mrs. Alma Adamkiene in Vilnius on 6.3.2002

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Few people nowadays recall that Lithuania and Finland have long-standing historical ties. Indeed, our countries were briefly parts of the same political union. As we know, that union was not created by waging war, but came about through marriage. It happened when Duke Johan of Sweden's Vasa dynasty married Katarina Jagellonica in Vilnius in 1562. Johan, who would later become King Johan III of Sweden, returned to his duchy in Finland after the wedding and he and his young bride took up residence in Turku Castle. Your beautiful Katarina Jagellonica brought a whiff of the Renaissance to the remote north. Their son, Sigismund Vasa, briefly wore the crowns of both Poland-Lithuania and Sweden-Finland.

The fates of our countries have been intertwined on many occasions since then as well, sometimes dramatically and not always happily. It is different today, and Europe is building her future on cooperation. I personally remember when Lithuania became a member of the Council of Europe. Today I can congratulate you for the current chairmanship of the Council's Ministerial Committee which you have conducted in an excellent manner. Now you are applying to join both NATO and the European Union. We wish you success in both of those endeavours.

We Finns are observing European enlargement from the inside. Lithuania has made excellent progress in the negotiations. I am confident that you have every chance of succeeding in your plan to become a member of the European Union in 2004. Finland strongly supports enlargement of the EU. It creates stability and promotes cooperation between states as well as prosperity.

It also improves prospects for cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. Programmes within the EU's Northern Dimension are further strengthening earlier forms of cooperation, such as the work of the Council of Baltic Sea States. Finland will assume the presidency of the Council in July this year. I can assure you that we will assume our duties with pleasure and perform them with vigour. Our presidency will also provide an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between Finland and Lithuania.

Finland and Lithuania have excellent prospects for cooperation in many sectors. We already have a strong foundation for it. The Via Baltica route provides a concrete link between our countries. Information and communications networks connect us in real time. Cooperation in the field of energy is of growing importance throughout the region.

Mr. President, I know that a sound environment has long been and remains close to your heart. The sea that we share is beautiful, but delicate. To protect the Baltic we must combine our forces. A clean environment and safe conditions in which to live will ensure stability and prosperity throughout the region.

When Lithuania joins the European Union, she will, like Finland, lie on the EU's external frontier. Indeed, border controls have been one of the focuses of our cooperation. Effective border controls lie in the interests of the entire region.

The well-known Finnish writer Maila Talvio and her husband, the linguist J.J. Mikkola, paved the way for modern cultural ties between us when they lived in your country, in the village of Ploksciai, over a century ago. They studied your language and culture and formed an undying affection for your people. The same happened to the Finnish ethnographer Aukusti Niemi in the early years of the 20th century.

There is something about the Lithuanian people and their culture that the Finns find profoundly charming. The number of Finnish visitors who enjoy Lithuania's historical cities and beautiful scenery is growing every year. In the past few months there have been numerous accounts in the Finnish media of what Lithuania can offer visitors in search of interesting attractions. I am convinced that when the city of Klaipeda celebrates its 750th jubilee next summer, interest in Lithuania will further increase in Finland.

I want to propose a toast to your health Mr. President as well as to the success of the Lithuanian people and to friendship between our countries.