New Year’s speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen on 1 January 2002

The past year was exceptional in many respects. Life in our own country went fairly peacefully, but events elsewhere in the word affected us as well. Above all, the acts of terrorism perpetrated in the United States last September shocked everyone. We Finns, together with others, share the grief of the bereaved and their concern for the future.

Acts of terrorism are a crime against both the rights of the individual and humanity. The purpose of terrorism is to destroy trust between people. It is precisely this mutual trust that has made it possible to build democracy, the rule of law and international cooperation.

Finland has not been the focus of any particular terrorist threat. In this respect, we have not been in direct danger. However, no country is an uninvolved bystander when it comes to international terrorism. Finland’s line has been clear throughout. We are against terrorism.

Security includes many things. It is not created by isolating oneself, but rather by seeking cooperation. We are living in a world which is based on interaction between people. We must do everything we can to ensure that this interaction can continue on both the national and the international level.

Terrorism is a difficult opponent. It is like other international problems in that the answer to it can not be found in national means alone, but instead effective international cooperation is needed. Terrorism is a threat to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. When we are defending these values so important to us, our own means must be effective, but at the same time worthy of our goals. The accomplishment of a lasting solution will require both prevention of terror attacks and the construction of a democratic and socially just society everywhere in the world.

I am very pleased that the United Nations has a central role in actions against terrorism. The Security Council has passed resolutions which are binding on the member states and will help them in their efforts to combat terrorism. The people of Afghanistan, who have suffered so much, must be helped and supported to repair the scars of destruction. This better tomorrow must be offered also to women and girls. Finland is involved in reconstruction there and we are preparing to send peacekeepers to the region.

I hope that the partnership that has come into being to oppose terrorism will encourage UN members to cooperate in other sectors as well. Managing globalisation, environmental protection and disarmament call for faith and enterprise. Cooperation is likewise needed to resolve intractable regional crises, for example in the Middle East.

The events of last September have prompted people in many parts of the world – also Finland – to reflect on the security of their own lives. As a small country, Finland has always depended on international interaction. In guaranteeing our own security we have relied more on international cooperation than on armed force, although of course we are prepared to defend our country and people when danger threatens.

We Finns can be pleased that our people and its elected political decision-makers have been very much in agreement on the fundamental principles on which our security and defence policies are based. Naturally, there is a need to monitor them to ensure that they remain up-to-date, but I do not believe that the present international situation will decisively change our status nor our basic solutions. In this connection, I want to thank the Eduskunta for its meritorious handling of the report on security and defence policy.

When we have pondered post-Cold War Europe, we Finns have often reiterated the importance of building a new, open cooperation. The enlargements of the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO are part of this transformation. A new stronger and more equitable Europe could promote global fairness.

I can happily repeat what I said last year about our having excellent relations with our neighbouring countries. The numerous important visits last year included those by President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Arnold Rüütel of Estonia to Finland during the autumn.

Russia’s aspiration to draw closer to the European Union and integrate her economy into that of Europe and the world accords also with Finland’s interests. It is important to us that Russia, as a European country, continues her commitment to the European community of values. We want to make our own contribution to supporting this development.

Estonia’s development has been rapid in the past decade. Finland supports Estonia as she tries to strengthen her position in the European family of peoples. We consider it important that this takes place in accordance with Estonia’s own wishes.

Finland has coped well in a globalising world. We have long been aware of an interdependence between national and international prosperity. Our Nordic welfare society makes it possible to implement the rights of the individual and is a central component of our competitiveness. Finland – like the other Nordic countries – is on the highest world level whether the criterion used is openness of the economy, the quality of the environment in which companies operate, or the evenness with which income is distributed and the comprehensiveness of the social security network.

Thus an international comparison shows that the saying that being born a Finn is a kind of lottery win still holds true. In the decades that we have been independent, we have built a society in which people have great freedom to decide their own lives. They are encouraged to influence common affairs and helped when they encounter major economic and social difficulties. We have a lot of everyday security. What Mother Finland has to offer is a lot more abundant today than it was in the past.

In spite of all this positive development, the everyday life of many Finns – young and old, rural and urban – is still difficult. The legacy that the recession left our country is that there are still too many people out of work. Since the new upswing began, the economy has been growing at a dizzying pace, but prosperity is tending to be shared unevenly. There is still a lot of work to be done to eliminate homelessness, unemployment, poverty and exclusion. Prime Minister Lipponen’s government has through a variety of measures tried to eliminate these problems. I express my support for the government in its work. Strengthening social justice is a cause that we all share.

Respect for law and order is one of our strong national traditions. However, it needs constant care. On unfortunately many occasions in the past year, we have had to hear and see news reports of incomprehensible violence. Most shocking of all has been to see even very young people commit such deeds. There does not seem to be any one factor that explains these acts; instead, what is always involved is the combined influence of several things.

Taking care of our children’s and our own financial security is important and often demands hard work. However, we adults can ask ourselves whether we care about our children in the right way. Our task is to pass on values to future generation – to tell them what is right and what is wrong. We must not leave children and young adults alone, but must listen to and guide them. Children’s parents have the primary right and responsibility to bring them up. Teachers, the police and social workers and many other professionals and activists in civil society do important work that deserves respect. But not even that is enough. We all have our responsibilities and duties as neighbours.

The past year saw growing uncertainty in the international economy. The EU countries, the United States and Japan drifted simultaneously into a phase of slow growth. This time, uncertainty does not stem solely from economic factors; the events of last autumn have had a decisive influence on general confidence and expectations.

A weakening of the international economy affects an open economy like Finland’s relatively strongly. However, the fundamental factors underpinning our economy are sound and, despite a slowdown in growth, we can look to the future with greater confidence than earlier.

Today we have adopted the new euro banknotes and coins. Our new currency is also the legal tender in eleven other countries. This new cooperation brings better security for our economy. Thorough preparations have been made. Therefore I believe that, although we do feel sadness as we abandon our old familiar markka, all of us will soon be familiar with the new euro – after a small period of practice.

My husband and I received many communications during the year. On behalf of both of us, I thank you for this cooperation, which is important to us.

I wish you all a good year in 2002.