Address by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen to the Seimas of Lithuania on 7.3.2002

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It gives me great joy and pleasure to be able to address Lithuania's legislative assembly, the Seimas. A democratic country's most central organ of state is its parliament - the heart of its democracy. I greatly esteem your work.

The Seimas has a long and honourable history, which reaches back as far as the 15th century. It played a central role in the restoration of Lithuanian democracy in 1918-20 and again in the early 1990s. The democracy that Lithuania won in the face of difficulties stands on a strong foundation. The Seimas is a central component of this democracy.

I have warm memories of a visit to Lithuania by a parliamentary delegation from Finland in September 1991. There were sandbags protecting the Seimas then and the situation in your country was still uncertain. Here inside the building, faith in an independent Lithuania was, then as now, strong.

2002 will be of great importance to you and your country. Towards the end of the year Lithuania is expected to achieve her aim of full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. We are looking forward to the successful conclusion of Lithuania's accession negotiations with the European Union some time next autumn.

The Copenhagen European Council in December will take historic decisions concerning the addition of as many as ten new members to the European Union. A few weeks earlier, the Prague Summit of NATO will decide on the accession of new members.

Thus 2002 will be a year of another new beginning and of opening up new opportunities for Lithuania. In our view, Lithuania's, Estonia's and Latvia's membership of the European Union and NATO will strengthen stability in the Baltic Sea region.

Lithuania and Finland are both small countries. Lithuania has a history of greatness, having been a major regional power from the 14th to the 18th century. In late 1917 and early 1918 Finland and Lithuania gained independence at related turning points in history. The second world war was very difficult for both countries. Finland remained independent, but had to pay a high price for it. As Lithuania was forced to become part of the Soviet Union, the destinies of our two countries were separated for half a century.

Lithuania and Finland will soon be partners again, with a common destiny as members of the European Union.

Lithuania and Finland already have a solid basis for deep and broad collaboration. This was very clear in my discussions with President Adamkus as well as at the Finnish-Lithuanian seminar on Women's Empowerment and Entrepreneurship here in Vilnius yesterday. As partners within the European Union we will have new opportunities for even broader and deeper co-operation in many fields.

The Seimas has a lot of international contacts and tasks. Working within the frameworks of the Council of Baltic Sea States, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Inter-Parliamentary Union has been part of your everyday routine for years. Last year you hosted a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly here in Vilnius.

With membership of the European Union, the Seimas will have to deal with an even broader range of tasks. This applies to direct interaction within the EU parliaments' cooperative organisation, but above all to overseeing and directing the actions of the Lithuanian Government in EU affairs.

I know that you have close links to the Eduskunta in Finland, and you are certainly aware of our legislature's active role in EU affairs. We do not proffer our model to others, but I am personally convinced that ours has been a good way to ensure democratic oversight of our actions in an EU context.

I thank you for the opportunity to meet you and say some words here in the home of Lithuanian democracy. I wish you personally and all members of the Seimas the best of happiness and success in your work for the good of the Lithuanian people!