Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at the state dinner held in honour of the President of Indonesia on 12 September 2006

It is a great honour and pleasure for me and my husband to welcome Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and Mrs Yudhoyono and your delegation to this state visit to Finland. We appreciate highly that you pay this state visit straight after the ASEM Summit.

Both Finland and Indonesia have attended the ASEM6 Summit here in Helsinki this week. Finland is very pleased with the Summit's achievements. Mutual understanding was strengthened and consensus was reached in many important issues of common interest. It was very important that progress was made on environmental issues. The declaration on climate change can contribute effectively to multilateral efforts to combat climate change. The enlargement of the ASEM is also very welcome. The ASEM has become an essential part of international co-operation. During the preparation of the ASEM Summit Finland’s connections with Indonesia, the ASEAN country coordinator, were close and we hope that our fruitful dialogue can continue in the future.

The earthquake and tsunami at the end of 2004 demonstrated in a shocking way the power of nature. However, the people of Aceh are brave and industrious and they started the rescue activities quickly under the leadership of the Indonesian government and with the support of the international community. Also Finland has been strongly involved in the reconstruction.

Despite the fact that our countries are far apart geographically, we became suddenly more familiar to each other in sorrow and in hope. In January 2005, talks between the parties began in Finland under the mediation of President Martti Ahtisaari. It was a great honour and privilege for us to host the talks. It would not have been possible to achieve a positive outcome without the strong will of both sides to find a peaceful solution. Mr President, your support for the negotiation process was extremely important. The implementation of the peace agreement has gone well, but your commitment is still needed.

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We know very well that cooperation between our countries has a long tradition. This is indicated by the fact that Finland established an embassy in Jakarta in 1974 and soon after Indonesia became the first - and for a long time the only - Southeast Asian country to have an embassy in Helsinki.

Both Finland and Indonesia have extensive forest resources. So it is only natural that forests and forest industries have played a key role in cooperation and trade. A joint working group set up by our countries' forestry ministries has met regularly; most recently a few days ago in Helsinki. Forest-based products and machinery and equipment required by the forest industries have an important position in trade between our countries, which is growing strongly.

Network of treaties is important for the development of economic ties. A Treaty on economic, industrial and technological cooperation and a Treaty on double taxation have been in force for a long time. Today our nations concluded a new Treaty on promoting and protecting investments, and we hope this treaty will encourage the development of economic cooperation also through bilateral investments.

Your Indonesian culture is very rich and diverse. In Finland, we have had an opportunity to learn about it in different connections over the years, and we look forward to many new experiences that your country can offer. Finland has also had an opportunity to present its own culture in Indonesia. I would particularly like to mention the Alvar Aalto exhibition that was arranged in Jakarta last January. Its popularity surprised us Finns and an even bigger surprise was how widely the work of Aalto, and other Finnish architects and designers, is known in Indonesia. Culture is a mirror of the soul and helps us to understand one another and gives relations between nations an important dimension.

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Your country’s international position is strong. Indonesia is a founding member of the Nonaligned Movement and the largest state in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Indonesia is an active member in the organization of islamic countries and its voice is heard in world politics. We welcome Indonesia’s decision to participate in the UNIFIL and look forward to a good cooperation in Lebanon.

In recent years Indonesia has established its position as the third largest democracy in the world. Indonesia's stability is important, not just for Southeast Asia but for the whole world. Indonesia can serve as an example of how different religions and cultures can live in harmony together. Indonesia's motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) describes your country well. In European Union we value close cooperation compined with respect for cultural richness.

I hope that this visit will help promote our countries' relations and cooperation in different fields.