President Halonen’s New Year Speech: We need to share responsibility for the Baltic Sea

According to President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, the countries bordering the Baltic Sea must share responsibility in its protection. In her New Year Speech on 1 January 2008, she noted that while much has already been done to clean up the Baltic Sea and to reduce its nutrient load, much joint effort is still needed. Just before the New Year, President Halonen sent a letter to the heads of state of the countries around the Baltic Sea, highlighting the importance of cooperation. The letter was co-signed by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. President Halonen called in her speech for visible political commitment to support practical action. “The Baltic does not separate us, it joins us together,” she said.

According to President Halonen, climate control became the global number one aim in the past year. She is hopeful that global responsibility will increase. “The UN Climate Change Conference on Bali in December was a step forward and can be the beginning of a new path. We can succeed in this process if we can manage to reconcile the ecological capacity of our world and the social need for justice.”

In domestic issues, President Halonen focused on basic services, everyday safety and the Finnish sense of community. She is worried about the fact that the welfare gaps between different population groups have not disappeared even though the national income has increased. This is particularly worrying with regard to children.

“Social cohesion and economic strength go hand in hand. If one breaks down, the other becomes uncertain too. As long as we can ensure that the standard of living improves for all population groups and can work to narrow the gaps, we are on a solid footing.”

President Halonen’s New Year Speech

President Halonen and Prime Minister Vanhanen's letter