Christmas message from President of the Republic Tarja Halonen to Finnish peacekeepers on 24 December 2010

Finland has participated in peacekeeping activities and crisis management tasks since 1956. You are part of this honourable tradition.

Over the decades peacekeeping and crisis management operations have become increasingly challenging. The international community has striven to support stability and reconstruction in those areas where this task is highly demanding. The society of a country crippled by violence is extremely fragile. Sustainable solutions require democracy, respect for human rights and effective rule of law.

During the past year, Finnish peacekeepers – and civilian crisis management personnel – have done invaluable work in crisis areas around the world. In Kosovo, the development has been positive: responsibility for security is being increasingly transferred to civilian crisis management actors and local security authorities.

Our experiences in Afghanistan show that modern crisis management operations are characterised by many challenges despite the presence of a sizeable international coalition. In the face of these challenging conditions and tasks, Finnish soldiers and civilian crisis management operators have fulfilled their duties in an outstanding manner. Together with the other ISAF countries, Finland is committed to supporting the improvement of the security situation in Afghanistan and to promoting the reconstruction of the country. The objective is to promote the transfer of security responsibility to Afghan authorities.

At the beginning of next year, Finland will participate in a naval operation for the first time with the departure of minelayer vessel Pohjanmaa to the coastal waters of Somalia as part of the crisis management operation of the European Union. The main objectives of Operation Atalanta include securing food supply for the local population by protecting World Food Programme shipments to Somalia and by combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Finland has paid particular attention to the status of women in conflict areas. Our objective has been to train all crisis management personnel in addition to human rights and equality advisors. The consideration of equality between women and men in all operations increases the efficiency of crisis management and helps us to respond better to the needs of the local population, especially the most vulnerable groups of people.

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Christmas is traditionally a celebration of peace and good will that is enjoyed with family and loved ones. Your everyday work fosters these values. Many of you will be spending this Christmas on duty. Your work is valued as much by those of us here at home as it is by the people you are protecting in conflict areas.

Dear peacekeepers,

Your loved ones will be thinking of you during the coming holidays. Remember them, too.

I would like to thank all of you for your work during the year and wish you and your loved ones a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year in 2011.