Reply by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen to a speech by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a banquet hosted by His Majesty in Stockholm on 2.5.2000

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Your words have beautifully and convincingly mirrored the warm and close relations that bind Finland and Sweden. We in Finland share your sentiments. The fact that my first official visit is to our neighbour Sweden is one indication of the quality of these relations. The great interest in our country that Your Majesty has shown through your frequent visits to us has earned the undivided appreciation of the Finnish people.

Anyone who looks at the Nordic countries from the outside sees them as largely similar, stable democracies. When the perspective is from the inside, however, we see both our shared values and that we are different with our own special features. These features that set us apart have become more evident in today’s conditions of such close interaction between us. I am convinced that the distinctiveness of every one of the Nordic countries is a valuable addition to the foundation stone on which our shared values rest.

Finland and Sweden share many centuries of history. The epoch during which they were united came to an end in 1809, when Finland became an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. However, we retained all essential Swedish laws and the constitution inherited from the Gustavian Era [1771-92] until we became an independent state more than a century later. For Finland the 19th century was a period of peace, vigorous development and national awakening. That was due in part to the fact that lively interaction with the Swedes continued and also to the new and realistic foreign policy that Sweden had embraced in 1812, and which in the course of the decades would evolve into the country’s respected policy of non-participation in military alliances.

Today, Finland and Sweden are members of the European Union. Both countries’ aloofness from military alliances is now complemented by European solidarity. In the economic sphere, cross-investment and corporate mergers have created a bond between us such as has not existed since the days before 1809. Swedish culture in Finland and Finnish culture in Sweden are values that we cherish, thereby building a better Europe together.

We are still living in a time of great changes. That applies to both the Nordic countries and Europe. I wish to thank you for having been given the opportunity to pay an official visit to our neighbours. The programme for my visit is interesting and well reflects what is traditional and precious in our relations as well as everything that is associated with their present status and dynamics.

I propose a toast to the close and warm relations between our countries as well as to Your Majesties’ personal happiness and success.