Mr Speaker and Honoured Members of Parliament, Distinguished Prime Minister and Members of Government, Honoured judges, Dear representatives of the orders, churches, Åland and the Sami people, Dear representatives of…
Address to the Diplomatic Corps by President Sauli Niinistö on 1 March 2024
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps I would like to thank you, Ambassador Buljević, for your kind words as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. I would also…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö in Parliament on 1 March 2024
Everything has changed and nothing has changed. We are living in a new kind of an era. War, peace and security are very much on people’s minds. The impacts of…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the funeral of President Hage Gottfried Geingob on 24 February 2024
Today, we have gathered here to honor the legacy of President Hage Gottfried Geingob – a great Namibian, a great African, a remarkable statesman and citizen of the world. President…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 7 February 2024
Mr Speaker, Honoured representatives of the Finnish nation Years ago, a parliament member, getting ready to leave this building told me how he once had walked across the Hall of…
New Year’s Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö on 1 January 2024
My fellow citizens At the turn of the year, we usually wish each other peaceful and happy days to come. Today, those wishes are more emotionally charged than before: things…
Commemorative speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the funeral of President Martti Ahtisaari in Helsinki on 10 November 2023
Dear Mrs Eeva Ahtisaari, Mr Marko Ahtisaari, Your Excellencies, friends and colleagues of Martti Ahtisaari, Fellow citizens, A great life’s work has been completed. Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari, the tenth…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the 2023–2024 term of the Parliament of Åland in Mariehamn on 3 November 2023
Mr Speaker, honoured members of the Parliament of Åland, The last time when I opened the new term of the Parliament of Åland in 2017, I spoke about the strengths…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the State Dinner hosted by President of Italy Sergio Mattarella in Rome on 23 October 2023
President Mattarella, dear friend, Ms Laura Mattarella, Distinguished guests, I would like to begin by thanking you for these days in Rome and Italy. We have had the pleasure of…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö following the passing of former President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari on 16 October 2023
Dear Finns It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the death of President Martti Ahtisaari. He passed away at the age of 86, after a…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the launch of the VTT and IQM’s 20-qubit quantum computer in Otaniemi, Espoo, on 10 October 2023
Ladies and Gentlemen In the era of rising great power tensions and uncertainty, Finland must rely on its strengths: technology expertise, innovation and resilience. Technology has long been at the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at Max Jakobson Memorial Lecture on 28 September 2023
Ladies and Gentlemen I am very pleased to deliver this Max Jakobson Lecture today. This week marks the centenary of his birth. At the time he was born, Europe was…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the General Debate of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York on 20 September 2023
Mr President, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen More than ten years ago, when I addressed the General Assembly for the first time as President of Finland, the world seemed complicated….
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the SDG Summit during the 78th session of UNGA in New York on 18 September 2023
President Tokayev, President Novák, Excellencies This Summit comes at a critical time. We are halfway to the timetable set for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. And we are nowhere…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the promotion and appointment of cadets on 25 August 2023
Esteemed Cadets, I congratulate you on the completion of the Bachelor of Military Sciences degree. I hereby promote all you cadets holding the rank of second lieutenant and ensign to…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission on 22 August 2023
Esteemed Heads of Mission, ladies and gentlemen We live in an era of accumulative and accelerating change. The momentum gathered and the tensions that have been building up over the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö to the new Government at the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023
Esteemed Prime Minister, Distinguished Members of Government I congratulate you, Prime Minister, on the confidence that Parliament has placed in you. You will be heading the 77th Government since Finland…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö to the resigned Government at the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023
Esteemed Member of Parliament Marin I thank you for your kind words. I would also like to thank you and your entire Government for your work and our good cooperation…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s opening speech at Kultaranta Talks on 18 June 2023
Dear friends I wish you a warm welcome to the Kultaranta Talks that we now exceptionally arrange here at the Presidential Palace. When I opened the first Kultaranta Talks ten…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 4th Council of Europe Summit on 17 May 2023 in Reykjavik
Excellencies, Colleagues, For more than a year, Russia has been waging a war of aggression on Ukraine. It is first and foremost an attack against Ukraine and its people. But…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner for the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on 11 May 2023
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the Presidential Palace today. This dinner is a time-honoured tradition, bringing together the heads of mission accredited…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the meeting of the New Foreign Policy Society of Finland in Helsinki on 8 May 2023
Ladies and gentlemen I greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak to you today. Associations such as the New Foreign Policy Society of Finland contribute to maintaining a high-quality foreign and…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg on 26 April 2023
Responding to Common Challenges in the Era of Shifting Geopolitics Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends, It is a delight for me to be in South Africa. My previous visit to…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 13 April 2023
Mr Speaker, honoured representatives of the Finnish nation, Opening of Parliament is a festive occasion every year. However, every four years, with the new Parliament starting in office, this moment…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the NATO accession ceremony in Brussels on 4 April 2023
Secretary General Stoltenberg, dear Jens, Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen Finland has today become the 31st member of NATO. The era of military non-alignment in our history has come to…
Video address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö to Bucha Summit on 31 March 2023
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, A year ago, shocking images started coming out of the liberated town of Bucha. The horrors uncovered there shook us all. Russia’s invasion has brought…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s remarks on the virtual plenary on Democracy Delivering Inclusion and Equality at the Summit for Democracy on 29 March 2023
Mr. President Chaves, Excellencies, I want to start by saying that a lot has happened since the first Summit for Democracy. For more than a year, Russia has been waging…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s virtual greeting to Summit for Democracy on 29 March 2023
Mr. President At the first Summit for Democracy, I stressed that democracy must be defended wherever it is under threat. I wish to underscore this even more forcefully today. With…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the closing of the electoral period on 29 March 2023
Mr Speaker, honoured representatives of the Finnish nation “There are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.” We can probably share…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at a Joint Session at the Washington State Capitol on 6 March 2023
Governor Inslee, President Heck, Members of the Washington State Legislature, Justices of the State Supreme Court, Dear Washingtonians It is a great pleasure and an honour for me to address…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Munich Security Conference Ewald von Kleist Award ceremony on 18 February 2023
Last year as we gathered here in Munich, the world was standing at the brink of a large-scale war. Russian troops stood at the border of Ukraine, talks had proven…
Remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the event “Impact of Climate Change in the Arctic” on 9 February 2023, Arktikum Science Centre, Rovaniemi
Madam Governor General, Rector Syväjärvi, Ladies and Gentlemen Our two Northern nations, Canada and Finland, care deeply about the Arctic. The protection of its unique environment and the well-being of…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner held on 7 February 2023 in honour of the State visit by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon
Madam Governor General, Ladies and Gentlemen It has been a great pleasure and honour, for me and my wife, to welcome you and your delegation on your state visit to…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2023
My fellow citizens, We are now living a time filled with worries. We had already – decade after decade – become accustomed to things always getting better. Or at least…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the reception for war veterans and members of the Lotta Svärd at the Presidential Palace on 1 December 2022
Honoured War Veterans, Members of the Lotta Svärd, Ladies and Gentlemen It is an honour to celebrate Finland’s independence with you. Our independence, which we have because of you. I…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the International Inaugural Summit “Grain from Ukraine” on 26.11.2022
Dear Mr President, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for organizing this timely Summit. Let me first convey message of solidarity from Finland to all Ukrainians. Russia is targeting Ukrainian…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the 242th National Defence Course on 7 November 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen National Defence Course number one took place in the spring of 1961, just before the building of the Berlin Wall. Since then, we have lived through three…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 74th Session of the Nordic Council in Helsinki on 1 November 2022
Esteemed Speakers, Dear Ministers and Members of the Nordic Council, Ladies and Gentlemen, My warmest congratulations to the Nordic Council on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. And a warm…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 2022 Millennium Technology Prize Award Ceremony on 25 October 2022
Esteemed Professor Martin Green, ladies and gentlemen, For the tenth time we are paying tribute through Millennium Technology Prize to global breakthrough innovations. Innovations, which improve the quality of life…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner held on 19 October 2022 in honour of the State Visit to Iceland
Your Excellency, Mr. President – dear Guðni, Dear Ms. Read – dear Eliza, Ladies and Gentlemen, on my own and on my wife’s behalf, I want to express our deepest…
Keynote speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs in Oslo on 10 October 2022
Prime Minister Støre, dear Jonas, Director Sverdrup, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me to return to Oslo, to NUPI, and to Litteraturhuset. One day shy of…
Keynote address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Helsinki Security Forum, 30 September 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me begin by stating the obvious: the security situation in Europe is dangerous. We all know this. We all know why this is so. But every…
Video statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Countdown to COP15: Landmark Leaders’ Event for a Nature Positive World in New York on 20 September 2022
Distinguished audience, Ladies and gentlemen, The world needs to tackle the triple crisis on biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. Now is the time to act. Ahead of December’s landmark…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 77th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 20 September 2022
Mr President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to start by congratulating Mr. Csaba Kőrösi for his election as the President of the seventy-seventh session of the…
Videospeech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Atlantic Council Global Citizen awards in New York on 19 September 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed members of the Atlantic Council Unfortunately, I can’t be there with you. But I want to thank the Atlantic Council for granting me the Global Citizen…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Transforming Education Summit in New York on 19 September 2022
Mr President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, I want to thank the Secretary-General for convening this first-ever Summit on education. I also thank Sierra Leone for their leadership. Education is a fundamental…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the promotion and appointment of cadets on 26 August 2022
Esteemed Cadets, I congratulate you on the completion of your Bachelor of Military Sciences degree. I hereby promote all cadets holding the rank of second lieutenant and ensign to the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Crimea Platform Summit on 23 August 2022
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to join my colleagues in thanking President Zelenskyy for convening this summit. Since our first gathering in Kyiv last August, the situation…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassadors’ Conference on 23 August 2022
Esteemed Heads of Missions, ladies and gentlemen, After a long interval, we meet again in the same physical location. Now that the pandemic finally allows it, this format is again…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Helsinki on 5 July 2022
Dear congress participants and guests, It is a great honour for Finland and our national scientific community to have the International Mathematical Union (IMU) congress in Helsinki today. Last time…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the NATO Summit in Madrid on 29 June 2022
Secretary General, dear colleagues, Last night we took another important step towards Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO. The trilateral memorandum we signed together with Türkiye opens the way for…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Finnish Defence Forces’ Flag Day parade in Helsinki on 4 June 2022
Esteemed war veterans and lottas, ladies and gentlemen, “Finland is a good country. It is the best for us Finns. It is a country worth defending, and its only defender…
President Niinistö’s statement in the White House following the discussions with the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Sweden on 19 May 2022
Mr. President, it is a great pleasure and honour to be standing here today together with you, together with the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. We are here for a…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Swedish Parliament on 17 May 2022
Watch the speech at Swedish Parliament’s website (in Swedish) Your Majesties, Mr Speaker, Ladies and gentlemen! It is an honour to speak to you here at the Riksdag today. Sweden…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the Akava event “Employment through Wellbeing at Work” on 31 March 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen, These past two years have in many different ways put us to the test. But this period has also shown our ability to act flexibly in challenging…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 2 February 2022
Mr Speaker, Honoured representatives of the Finnish nation, We live in a country cited as the happiest country in the world. And indeed, a lot of things are well here….
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2022
My fellow citizens, “My perhaps somewhat outdated understanding of the mutual relations between us people is that we need more good will, more willingness to understand one another and more…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Summit for Democracy, 9 December 2021
Mr President, Finland ranks high in every global index related to democracy. Finland’s democracy is built on a stable representative political system, well-functioning local governance, vibrant civil society, and low…
”The Case for a Stronger Europe in a Harder World” – Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Humboldt University, Berlin, 23 November 2021
Ladies and gentlemen, ”It will take twenty years before we arrive at a common foreign policy, let alone a common security policy, of the Europeans. But step by step we…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Körber Foundation Event “International Dialogue Revisited: The Spirit of Helsinki in an Age of Great-Power Competition”, 22 November 2021
President Steinmeier, dear Frank-Walter, Dr. Paulsen, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to begin by congratulating the Körber Foundation for the 60th anniversary of the Bergedorf Round Table format. President Steinmeier…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s video greetings at the 2021 Internationalisation Awards ceremony on 19 November 2021
In the 2020s, Finland’s wellbeing will be based even more on the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are renewing our economy, to grow and create new jobs. Finland…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 60th anniversary of the National Defence Course Association on 18 November 2021
The speech was delivered by Secretary General Hiski Haukkala on behalf of the President of the Republic of Finland Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to warmly congratulate the…
Opening statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto at The Hanaholmen Initiative Summit on 16 November 2021
The statement was delivered by Secretary General Hiski Haukkala on behalf of the President of the Republic of Finland Ladies and gentlemen, Lämpimät onnitteluni ensimmäisen Hanaholmen kriisivalmiuskurssin suorittaneille. Mina varma…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö in honour of the 225th anniversary of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in Stockholm on 12 November 2021
I want to warmly congratulate the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences for its 225-year journey. You have a long and honourable history. During this time, there have been…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the World Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow on 2 November 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen, more than 40 years ago, in 1979, experts from around the world met in Geneva at the first World Climate Conference. In that conference, climate change…
Keynote speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the World Leaders Summit Event on Forests and Land Use on 2 November 2021
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honor to join you here today. This conference could be pivotal in the fight against climate change. And it will be, if…
Opening speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the seminar on demilitarisation and neutralisation of Åland in Mariehamn on 20 October 2021
Honourable Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, Kära ålänningar, It is a great pleasure for me to open this Seminar today. Because of the stormy weather, flight to Åland was impossible. Unfortunately,…
Keynote Speech by President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the FIIA Forum, Helsinki, 29 September 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I would like to congratulate the Finnish Institute of International Affairs for its 60th anniversary. Finland needs an institute that is both Finnish and…
Video speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UN Food Systems Summit on 23 September 2021
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, last year almost ten percent of the global population suffered from undernourishment, according to UN estimates. This is a sad statistic. We, as the global community,…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the 76th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 21 September 2021
Mr President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, I would like to congratulate Mr Abdulla Shahid for his election as the President of the seventy-sixth session of…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the promotion and appointment of cadets on 27 August 2021
Esteemed Cadets, I congratulate you on the completion of the Bachelor of Military Sciences degree. I hereby promote all you cadets holding the rank of second lieutenant and lieutenant, junior…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassadors’ Conference on 24 August 2021
Esteemed Heads of Missions, ladies and gentlemen, Over the past days and weeks, our attention has been fixed on the dramatic events in Afghanistan. Naturally, we knew to expect problems…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on 23 August 2021
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me begin with a quote: “Reaffirming their objective of promoting better relations among themselves and ensuring conditions in which their people can live in…
Video greeting from President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö to the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples held on 16–18 June 2021
I would like to thank President Kaljulaid for the kind invitation to participate in this VIII World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. The World Congress is held every four years, but…
Message by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the HeForShe Summit on 27 May 2021
Excellencies, distinguished guests all around the world, Achieving gender equality requires action and commitment from all of us. It has been a true honor for me to be a part…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize Award Ceremony on 18 May 2021
Esteemed Professors Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman, ladies and gentlemen, In little more than a year, one particular challenge – the COVID 19 pandemic – has changed our lives completely….
President of the Republic of Finland’s greeting on Mother’s Day on 9 May 2021
Dear Mothers, Today we celebrate you, the mothers who make Finland a good country to live in – good to be a mother and good to be a child. For…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 3 February 2021
Madame Speaker, Honoured representatives of the Finnish nation, When a year ago on the same occasion I referred to the coronavirus, I was only cautiously able to mention that the…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2021
My fellow citizens, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all of you. So far, we have coped with the coronavirus pandemic rather well compared to many…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö on the 150th anniversary of the birth of President J. K. Paasikivi, 27 November 2020
“The main task of our policy, now and in the future, is naturally to secure independence and the democratic order. As of yet we have not achieved certainty in both…
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the News, Communication and Information Wars media seminar, 15 October 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen, This seminar brings together professional journalists who worked in the Finnish Section of the BBC World Service. This year is the 80th anniversary of the start of…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö for the High-Level Meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, 1 October 2020
Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. President, Thank you for convening this high-level meeting at such a crucial point in time. We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 75th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly 23 September 2020
Mr President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me congratulate Mr. Volkan Bozkir for the election as the President of the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly. You can…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, 21 September 2020
Mr Secretary-General, Mr President, your Excellencies, Today, we are celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. We are rightfully honoring its achievements and efforts for peace and security, development…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the SDG Moment convened by the UN Secretary-General, 18 September 2020
Madame Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies, We are in the middle of a global crisis, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has also brought challenges to…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the promotion and appointment of cadets on 28 August 2020
Esteemed Cadets, I congratulate you on the completion of the Bachelor of Military Sciences degree. I hereby promote all you cadets holding the rank of second lieutenant and lieutenant, junior…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassadors’ Conference on 25 August 2020
Esteemed Heads of Missions, ladies and gentlemen, We still have more than a third of this year left, but it has already felt quite long so far. Our everyday life…
President of the Republic of Finland’s greeting on Mother’s Day on 10 May 2020
Dear Mothers, On Mother’s Day flowers are appearing for our pleasure. Birds are busy building nests. As if to honour mothers. This year no national Mother’s Day ceremony can be…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the Finland Forward campaign on 17 April 2020
At the beginning of the current year, nobody could foresee where we would be in just a couple of months. We have faced the impossible. And it is far from…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland at the opening of Parliament on 5 February 2020
Mr Speaker, Distinguished Members of Parliament, During the year that just has begun, Parliament will receive the Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy, to be followed by the Report…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2020
My fellow citizens, We are on the threshold of a new decade. The 2010s was a time of rapid change. The pace of change will continue to increase, but we…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Balticconnector Commissioning Celebration on 11 December 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, We have gathered here today to celebrate yet another connection between our two countries. Finland and Estonia are already bound together by many ties – political, economic…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland to the new Government on 10 December 2019
Prime Minister, Distinguished Members of Government, I congratulate you, Prime Minister, for the vote of confidence you just received from Parliament. You will be heading the 76th Government since Finland…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland to the resigned Government on 10 December 2019
Esteemed Minister Rinne, I thank you for your kind words. I would also like to thank you and your Government for smooth, even if short-lived, cooperation. Politics is full of…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the high-level event on Women’s Economic Empowerment, “She for Business”, Addis Ababa, 15 October 2019
Madame President, Madame Executive Director, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my great pleasure to address you here today. I would like to start by commending Ethiopia’s new administration for…
Statement by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the High-level Seminar “Climate Action: Results We Can Measure”, Addis Ababa, 15 October 2019
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me to address this seminar. The topic at hand could hardly be more important. We all know the main facts…
Statement by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the SDG Summit, Leaders Dialogue 3, 25 September 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to this Leaders’ Dialogue number three “Measures to Leverage Progress Across the Sustainable Development Goals”. I am Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland and my co-moderator is…
Joint Statement from the President of the Republic of Finland and the President of the United States, Washington D.C., 2 October 2019
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Finland, our relationship is stronger than ever. It is based on our shared values: democracy, human…
Statement by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the 74th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 24 September 2019
Mr. President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me congratulate Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande for the election as the President of the 74th session of the General Assembly. You…
Statement by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, at the UN Climate Action Summit New York, 23 September 2019
Check against delivery Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, for your leadership in convening us here today. The scientific case for the urgency of…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Yalta European Strategy Conference Kyiv, Ukraine, 13 September 2019
President Zelensky, President Kaljulaid, ladies and gentlemen, It is touching to be here among happy people, free people. Mr. Sentshov, it was a huge experience for me to see you…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 100th anniversary of Finland’s constitutional democracy celebration on 10 September 2019
Photo: Hanne Salonen / Parliament of Finland Honourable Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, Ladies and gentlemen, “First and foremost, Parliament is called upon to enter into records the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Interparliamentary Conference for the CFSP and the CSDP in Helsinki, Kalastajatorppa, 5 September 2019
This autumn we are commemorating the outbreak of the Second World War eighty years ago. We must not forget the terrible devastation and human suffering caused by that war. But…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the promotion and appointment of cadets on 30 August 2019
Esteemed Cadets, I congratulate you on the completion of the Bachelor of Military Sciences degree. I hereby promote all you cadets holding the rank of second lieutenant and sub-lieutenant to…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassadors’ Conference on 20 August 2019
Esteemed Heads of Missions, dear colleagues, Major questions of world politics are strongly present in Helsinki this week. This year, it is not only the merit of the discussions that…
Speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the opening of the Kultaranta Talks in Kultaranta, Finland, on 16 June 2019
Mr President, Prime Minister, Distinguished guests, It is wonderful to be back in Finland! My wife and I have great memories of our state visit to Finland last September that…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the dinner in honour of President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Moon Jae-in, and Mrs. Kim Jung-sook on 10 June 2019
Esteemed President Moon, esteemed Mrs. Kim, It has been a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you to Finland for this state visit. Thirteen years have passed since…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the Finnish-Korean Startup Summit, 11 June 2019
Dear President Moon, It has been a great pleasure to welcome you to Finland for your state visit. And now I am happy to see your delegation at this event….
President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö’s speech to the new Government, 6 June 2019
Esteemed Prime Minister, distinguished Members of Government, I congratulate you, Prime Minister, on the confidence that Parliament has placed in you. Under your leadership, the 75th Government of independent Finland…
President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö’s speech to the outgoing Government, 6 June 2019
Esteemed Minister Sipilä, Let me thank you for your kind words. I would also like to thank you and the Members of your Government for our very smooth cooperation. We…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the Council of Europe’s 70th anniversary celebration, 16 May 2019
Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Madam President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, “I am now going to say something that will astonish you.” These were the words…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Arctic Security Roundtable in Helsinki, 7 May 2019
Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Teija Tiilikainen (L), President Sauli Niinistö and Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger. Photo: Michael Kuhlmann/MSC After my very…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner for the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace, 2 May 2019
Photo: Juhani Kandell/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, It is once again a pleasure to welcome you all to the Presidential Palace….
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 25 April 2019
Honourable Mr Speaker, Honourable representatives of the Finnish people, The Parliament which begins its work today looks again quite different from its predecessor that went out two weeks ago. The…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the closing of the electoral period 2015-2019 on 10 April 2019
Photo: Hanne Salonen/Parliament of Finland Madam Speaker, Members of Parliament, It is the duty of Parliament and its members to look to the future. To work to ensure future…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg, 9 April 2019
It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this forum for the third time. I want to thank you, President Putin, the Russian Government and all the organizers,…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, 23 January 2019
Secretary-General, Madame President, Distinguished Members of the Parliamentary Assembly, Ladies and Gentlemen, 2019 is an important year for the Council of Europe. Because of its history, but also for what…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the launch of the China Finland Year of Winter Sports on 14 January 2019
President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Xi, We have a long tradition in sports cooperation between Finland and China. It can be considered to have begun in the…
Keynote speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Cooling our Planet seminar in Beijing on 14 January 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, Last year was again a record-breaker. Global land and ocean surface temperatures were among the highest in the past 140 years, when reliable statistics have existed….
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2019
My fellow citizens, Late this autumn, the memorial flame was burning beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A hundred years had passed since the end of World War I….
Christmas message from the President of the Republic to Finnish peacekeepers
Peacekeeping and military crisis management have played an important role in Finland’s efforts to safeguard international security for more than sixty years. Crises are challenging and complex situations, and resolving…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the Leaders’ Summit COP24 in Katowice, Poland, 3 December 2018
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the Leaders’ Summit COP24 in Katowice, Poland, 3 December 2018 Two months ago the special report of the…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s speech for the unveiling of the grave memorial for Former President of the Republic of Finland Mauno Koivisto on 25 November 2018
President Mauno Koivisto left a deep and permanent mark on our nation’s history. His life’s work left behind a map that strengthened democratic Finland and led us to the new…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the opening of the 227th National Defence Course on 5 November 2018
The National Defence Course commencing today will be the 227th of its kind. Over the coming weeks you will become part of this important tradition. The National Defence Course gives…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Arctic Biodiversity Congress in Rovaniemi on 9th October 2018
It is a pleasure to welcome you to Rovaniemi and the Finnish Arctic. As we are opening the Arctic Biodiversity Congress today, we are also entering one of the most…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held on 29 August 2018 in honour of the official visit by President of France Emmanuel Macron
Monsieur le Président, Madame Macron, nous, mon épouse et moi, sommes très heureux de vous accueillir à Helsinki. A hundred years ago, France was one of the very first countries…
Keynote Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. on 27th September 2018
A Stronger Europe: Our Common Interest Like many of my colleagues, I spent the past few days at the UN General Assembly. The sentiment I took away from the speeches…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the HeForShe IMPACT Summit on 26th September 2018
On behalf of all the HeForShe Champions across government, business and academia, I would like to warmly welcome you to this HeForShe IMPACT Summit. We HeForShe Champions are addressing some…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the United Nations General Assembly 73rd General Debate on 25th September 2018
I congratulate you, Madam President, on your election as President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly. I also wish to pay tribute to Secretary-General António Guterres for his…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held on 17 September 2018 in honour of the official visit by President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Mrs Elke Büdenbender
Dear Federal President, dear Mrs Büdenbender, it has been a great pleasure and honour for my wife and I to welcome you today on the first day of your state…
Opening speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the 27th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamn on 27 August 2018
I am very pleased to address you at the 27th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Mariehamn. Let me warmly congratulate the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference and the host, Ålands lagting,…
Remarks by President Martti Ahtisaari at the Kultaranta Talks 2018: “Power and Strength or a Shared Order?” in Kultaranta, 17 June 2018
President Niinistö, President of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Let me begin by thanking President Niinistö for inviting me to speak here today. It is…
Opening remarks of the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Kultaranta Talks on 17 June 2018
Good evening and a warm welcome to the Kultaranta Talks. *** We have gathered here every June since 2013 to discuss current issues in foreign and security policy. Looking back,…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Finnish Climate Summit at Finlandia Hall on 13th June 2018
It is a pleasure to join you all here this morning. ”What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” This quote from the former U.S….
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö at the dinner in honour of the President of Iceland, Mr. Gudni Thorlacius Jóhannesson and Mrs. Eliza Reid at the Presidential Palace on 15 May 2018
It has been a great pleasure for us to welcome you to Finland for this state visit. Iceland is a country we Finns have always felt great friendship for. Despite…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the centenary of President Kallio’s reconciliation speech in Nivala on 5 May 2018
This spring we have commemorated the centenary of the Finnish Civil War. The joy and gratitude expressed during Finland’s centenary celebrations last year were quickly replaced by the sad memories…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Opening of Parliament on 6 February 2018
(check against delivery) Madam Speaker, Members of Parliament, You are now embarking on the last parliamentary session of your electoral term. The concept of “parliamentary session” has always fascinated me;…
Inauguration speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 February 2018
Madam Speaker, representatives of the Finnish people, Madam Speaker, thank you for your thought- and emotion-provoking speech. It reminds me that I am here in front of you as a…
Address to the Diplomatic Corps by the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 February 2018
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, I would like to thank you, Ambassador Ricardo Alvarado, for your kind words as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. I would…
New Year Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 January 2018
My fellow citizens, A year of celebrations is behind us. The centenary of our independence was fêted in many ways and recalled with gratitude. It has been rousing to see…
Christmas message from the President of the Republic to Finnish peacekeepers
Dear Finnish peacekeepers, This year, we have celebrated 100 years of Finnish independence. We are rightly proud of the safety and prosperity we enjoy in our country and of the…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held in honour of the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Mrs. Agata Korhauser-Duda at the Presidential Palace on 24 October 2017
(check against delivery) I and my wife are happy that you are paying us this state visit. You are visiting Finland at a very special time: This year we celebrate…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats 2 October 2017
(check against delivery) As EU member states, we share a common security environment with NATO. The EU and NATO are facing the emerging challenges increasingly also together. With this in…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held in honour of the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella at the Presidential Palace on 27 September 2017
I and my wife Jenni are very pleased and proud that you are honouring us with a visit to Finland on this year, when we are celebrating our 100 years…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Mr. Sauli Niinistö at the Doctor of Laws Honorary Doctor’s degree Ceremony of the University of Minnesota September 23, 2017
(check against delivery) I would like to thank the University of Minnesota and its Law School for this honour. I will accept this honorary degree as an acknowledgement to Finland…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Mr. Sauli Niinistö at the FinnFest USA 2017 Convocation in Minnesota September 22, 2017
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for my wife and I to attend the Convocation of FinnFest USA 2017. I want to thank the organisers for this wonderful…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Mr. Sauli Niinistö at the Economic Club of Minnesota September 22, 2017
(check against delivery) It is a great honour for me to address this distinguished audience. I want to thank the Minnesota Economic Club for this opportunity. In particular I want…
Remarks by the President of the Republic of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö at the High-Level event on prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse organized by Secretary-General António Guterres in New York on 18th September, 2017
(check against delivery) I thank you for organizing this important event. I welcome the Secretary-General’s leadership in dealing with this problem. Finland supports the Secretary-General’s strategy to prevent and end…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Mr. Sauli Niinistö, at the HeForShe IMPACT 10X10X10 Parity Report Launch on Wednesday, 20 September 2017
(check against delivery) Today, we celebrate the achievements of the HeforShe initiative. Let me begin by congratulating UN Women for launching the Parity Report. It highlights the success that the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Zero Emission Summit on Citizens’ Role in Mitigating Climate Change in New York on 21 September 2017
(check against delivery) I want to thank the organisers of this event. This event is an important reminder of the responsibility, but also the ability of individuals to act in…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UNGA 72nd General Debate on 20 September 2017
(check against delivery) I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as President of the 72nd session of the General Assembly. Finland fully supports your six priorities. We appreciate the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Finland Centennial Gala Dinner in Washington D.C.on 16 September 2017
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me to join you all for this gala dinner. Tonight, we are celebrating the Centennial of Finland. A little ahead of…
Remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the reception commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Finnish-American Fulbright Agreement and Finland’s Centenary on 21 August 2017
Today we celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Signing of the Fulbright Agreement between our countries. During these years the Finnish-American Fulbright programme has contributed considerably to strengthening the ties…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassador Seminar on 22 August 2017
Today, we have gathered for the Ambassador Seminar in a Finland that is celebrating 100 years of independence. Over the past year, we have drawn attention to the many areas…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a luncheon in honour of the official visit of Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe on 10 July 2017
Honourable Prime Minister Abe, Dear Mrs Abe, Your visit is a great honour and pleasure for my spouse and me. We have many fond memories of our visit to Japan…
Speech by Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, at the Opening Ceremony of the Expo National day Finland on Tuesday 20 June 2017
I congratulate Kazakhstan for organizing this fantastic Astana Expo. I thank President Nazarbayev for inviting me for my third visit to Astana. Finland is proud to participate in the Astana…
Opening words by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Kultaranta talks on 11 June 2017
The theme of this year’s Kultaranta Talks is “The Future”. Tomorrow we will be pondering the future of Finland. But our opening panel deals with “The Future of European Security…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at Soome 100 concert on 10 June 2017
The theme of our evening is the Shared Melody which can so genuinely be heard between our countries. A strong, spiritual bridge spans the Gulf of Finland and music is…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on the flag day of the Finnish Defence Forces in Helsinki on 4 June 2017
It is a great honour to receive the parade of the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces here in the Senate Square, a centre of Finland’s statehood and cultural…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held in honour of the visit of Nordic head of state on 1 June 2017
I once again wish our guests a warm welcome to Finland. It is a great pleasure to be able to host a joyful celebration: one which brings together our nearest…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö – Commemorative speech at the funeral of President Mauno Koivisto on 25 May 2017
A great Finn has departed from our midst. Mauno Henrik Koivisto, the ninth President of the Republic, has passed into eternity. He has left us, but remains close to us….
Opening words of President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the “Wisdom wanted – CMI and the Elders” seminar on 22 May 2017
Photo: Riku Isohella As a mediator, Martti Ahtisaari has seen first-hand with how little wisdom many countries have been governed. Often they have been misgoverned to the point of war….
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn on 13 May 2017
(check against delivery) I would like to thank for this invitation. I am honoured to be delivering this key note. Lennart Meri was an exceptional individual. He lived a remarkable…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the dinner for the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace on 25 April 2017
Weather might be cold outside but a clear sign of spring is this annual get-together with the diplomatic community in Finland. It is always a pleasure to host this dinner…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the banquet held in honour of President of China Xi Jinping and Mrs Peng Liyuan on 5 April 2017
I am delighted to welcome you and your spouse to Finland. It is a very great honour for us that you are visiting our country while we celebrate the centenary…
Opening remarks by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” Forum, Arkhangelsk, 30th March 2017
It is a great pleasure to attend this distinguished Forum again. I want to thank the Russian Government and the Russian Geographical Society for convening this forum. It is fitting…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a banquet in honour of Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia and Mr Georgi-Rene Maksimovski at the Presidential Palace on 7 March 2017
This is our third meeting within a short time span. While it is rare for high-level meetings to be so frequent, this is customary between Finland and Estonia. Our shared…
Laudatory remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the occasion of President Gauck being awarded the Ewald-von-Kleist-Award during the Munich Security Conference, 18th February 2017
We are gathered here tonight to honour and celebrate the ground-breaking work of my dear friend, Joachim Gauck. I want to thank Ambassador Ischinger and the Munich Security Conference for…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of parliament on 2 February 2017
(check against delivery) Members of Parliament, You are the custodians of great things. This year, Finland will celebrate 100-years anniversary of its independence as one of the world’s most stable…
Speech by the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a dinner in honour of the President of Ukraine at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on 24th January 2017
I warmly welcome you to Finland. Your timing is excellent. We are celebrating hundred years of our independence. This year also marks the 25th, or the 99th, depending on how…
New Year Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 January 2017
My fellow citizens, Milestone anniversaries are important to us. For some, it is a certain age, for others when a community reaches round figures. Many of us remember that significant…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at Kauniala Hospital Christmas celebration on 9th December 2016
The past week has been an emotional week of festivities. We celebrated 99 years of independence on Tuesday. But for Jenni and me this traditional visit to Kauniala hospital conveys…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the 219th National Defence Course on 7 November 2016
Congratulations on being selected to participate in the National Defence Course. You are on the course because you are needed. A great experience and an important lesson on the many…
Opening address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Finnish-Iranian business seminar in Tehran on 25 October 2016
Check against delivery My Spouse and I are delighted to be in Tehran today. This is our first visit to your beautiful country and the first visit by a Finnish…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner in honour of the visit by President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite at the Presidential Palace on 18 October 2016
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me and my spouse to warmly welcome you to Helsinki. We are delighted that you are here. I look back with…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö in the opening ceremony of the seminar “A Girl’s Right to an Education” on International Girls’ Day on 11th October 2016
It is a privilege to open this seminar today. For Finland, the right to education for girls is very dear thing. An interesting historical detail is that the first university…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UNGA 71th General Debate on 21 September 2016
(check against delivery) I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, upon your election as the President of the 71st session of the General Assembly. You can count on Finland´s full…
Key note speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the HeForShe Second Anniversary Reception on 20 September 2016
I joined HeForShe in the spring of 2015. My decision was spurred by a slight feeling of embarrassment: How come we still live in a world where something self-evident, namely…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the high-level meeting on large movements of refugees and migrants in New York on 19 September 2016
(check against delivery) Let me start by expressing my gratitude to the Secretary-General for organizing this meeting. The issue is of utmost importance. More than 30 000 people are forcibly…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at a banquet in honour of the state visit by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway at the Presidential Palace on 6 September 2016
First of all, I would like to bid Your Majesties and the entire Norwegian delegation a warm welcome to Finland. It is always wonderful to receive a visit from a…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the “Innovsjon Norge” business seminar on 7 September 2016
(check against delivery) It is a pleasure for me to address this high-level business seminar. I am delighted that Your Majesties, King Harald and Queen Sonja, are accompanied by several…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the Ambassador Seminar on 23 August 2016
The world is transforming, but one issue remains the same: The autumn season of Finnish foreign policy opens with the ambassador seminar. It is always a pleasure to meet you,…
Opening speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Kultaranta talks on 19 June 2016
Prime Ministers Löfven and Sipilä, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a warm welcome to the Kultaranta talks. It is always a pleasure to see a group…
Opening speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 7th World Congress of the Finno-Ugric Peoples in Lahti on 15 June 2016
I have the great pleasure and honour to be the patron of the 7th World Congress of the Finno-Ugric Peoples. I welcome warmly my esteemed colleagues from Estonia and Hungary,…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli NIinistö at the Aalto University degree conferment ceremony dinner on 20 May 2016
On behalf of all those awarded an honorary doctorate, I would like to thank the Aalto University School of Business for honouring us so generously today. In addition, thank you…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a banquet hosted by President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mrs Ieva Ilves on 17 May 2016
My esteemed colleague, Toomas Hendrik, dear Ieva, Dear friends, Many of the Estonians here will manage without the translation of my speech that has been laid on the table. This…
Address by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the FinEst Future Forum at Mektory, Tallinn Technical University on 17 May 2016
First of all, thank you for the warm reception you have given me here in Tallinn and for inviting us to the Mektory Innovation centre. The background of Mektory is…
Opening words by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the White House in Washington D.C. on Friday, May 13th 2016
Mr. President and Mrs. Obama, We, the Leaders of the five Nordic countries, and our spouses, are grateful to you for inviting us and convening the second US – Nordic…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at Business Forum during the state visit by the Grand-Duc of Luxembourg, 11 May 2016
(Check against delivery) I would like to begin by warmly welcoming your delegation to Finland. This is an important visit for me personally because I have had the pleasure to…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the dinner in honour of the state visit of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 10 May 2016
It is a great honour and pleasure for my wife and I to welcome Your Royal Highnesses on your state visit to Finland. Your visit confirms the close relationship between…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 2016 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Ceremony on 3 May 2016
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the World Press Freedom Day in Helsinki and to this award ceremony. Today, we are here to celebrate the human right…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the official dinner during the state visit of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in Helsinki on 28 April 2016
Your Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, Lady Cosgrove, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives my spouse and me great pleasure to welcome you to this dinner. It concludes the busy…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the dinner for the diplomatic corps at Presidential palace on 21 April 2016
(check against delivery) This is already the fifth occasion on which I have the opportunity to address this esteemed audience. I would like to present my sincere thanks for the…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the spring meeting of the Finnish National Defence Course Association on 5 April 2016
Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic Thank you for the opportunity to address such a distinguished and knowledgeable audience. It is vital that we in Finland remain…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the seminar at the parliament of Japan on 9 March 2016
I am honoured to have this opportunity to address you in the prestigious premises of the House of Representatives. Allow me to begin by conveying my deepest sympathy to the…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Opening of Parliament on 3 February 2016
Madam Speaker, Members of Parliament, When you began your work a year ago, you can hardly have anticipated what lay ahead. When I took office, I was equally unable to…
New Year Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 January 2016
My fellow citizens, I want to begin with good news, because such news is often less prominent. Two images, in particular, remain with me from last year. One is of…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 60th anniversary of Finland’s membership to the United Nations on 9 December 2015
Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic Let me begin by welcoming you, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, to Helsinki. It is a great honor to have you here with…
Speech by President of ?the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Leaders Event of the opening ceremony of the Paris Climate Change Conference on 30 November 2015
(check against delivery) My heart is with the victims of the horrendous attacks here in Paris. As against terrorism, we need a concrete and united approach to combat climate change….
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at a high-level networking luncheon with the business community in Jakarta on 3 November 2015
(check against delivery) It gives me great pleasure to open my state visit to Indonesia by attending this networking luncheon. Surrounded by your kind hospitality and as a person with…
Keynote spee?ch by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the “Next Steps in Turkey – Finland Trade Relations”, Business roundtable in Istanbul on 14 October 2015
(check against delivery) Before I start with today´s theme, I would like to deliver sincere condolences from the people of Finland regarding the terrorist attack where so many precious human…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UNGA 70th General Debate on 29 September 2015
Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, upon your election as the President of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly. You have the full support of…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Peacekeeping Summit in New York on 28 September 2015
(check against delivery) I would like to thank President Obama for convening this event, as we seek to boost the United Nations Peacekeeping efforts. Finland warmly welcomes the Secretary-General’s initiative…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Interactive Dialogue on Protecting our planet and combating climate change, during the Sustainable Development Summit in New York on 27 September 2015
I would like to begin by congratulating the Co-Chairs on their leadership in this run-up to the Climate Conference in Paris. I hope that the momentum we are gathering here…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment – A Commitment to Action in New York on 27 September 2015
Let me thank President of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping, Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and UN Women for convening this important meeting today. Your commitment to…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York on 25 September 2015
It is a great honour for me to address this Opening Plenary Summit that just adopted the new Sustainable Development Agenda. I would like to thank the Secretary General for…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassador Seminar 25 August 2015
August is once again nearing its end and the ambassador seminar is upon us. While summer is perhaps fading, the political autumn is just beginning. Clearly, we should not forget…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the OSCE PA annual meeting in Helsinki on 6 July 2015
Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic 40 years ago Heads of State and Government gathered here in Helsinki to decide whether we could find more security in…
Speech by President of the Republic of Sauli Niinistö at the V Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions In Astana on 10 June 2015
I am deeply honoured for this possibility to address the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. This is already the fifth time when political and religious leaders convene…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on behalf of Honorary Doctors at the conferment ceremony dinner of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Helsinki on 5 June 2015
On behalf of the Honorary Doctors, I would like to thank the 375-year-old University of Helsinki and its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for the acknowledgement you have given us. We…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at business luncheon in Mexico City on 26 May 2015
I am very grateful to be present in this networking lunch enhancing the economic relations between Finnish and Mexican businessmen and government representatives. We are gathered here today to create…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Senate of the Republic of Mexico on 26 May 2015
(check against delivery) This state visit to Mexico is a great honour for me and my spouse. I particularly appreciate having the opportunity to speak here in the cradle of…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at an official luncheon in Mexico City on 25 May 2015
(check against delivery) On this, our first visit to Mexico, my spouse and I have had time to do little more than catch a glimpse of your great country’s impressive…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the at the opening of parliament on 29 April 2015
(check against delivery) Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament, Today marks the first day of the 29th Parliament of independent Finland. Among you are new members of Parliament, experienced veterans and…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the diplomatic dinner held at the Presidential Palace on 23 April 2015
My spouse and I once again have the pleasure of meeting you, the representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Finland. I would also like to take this opportunity to…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the closing of the electoral period 2011–2015 at Finlandia Hall on 15 April 2015
(check against delivery) When President Halonen opened Parliament in 2011, she said that “we cannot know what this electoral period will bring”. How right she was. We did not even…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the seminar on Finnish-Polish Baltic Sea Partnership in Gdansk on 1 April 2015
It gives me great pleasure to address this Seminar on Finnish-Polish Baltic Sea Partnership in the historic city of Gdansk. This is truly a historic city. It played a key…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a dinner on the state visit to Poland on 31 March 2015
Together with my spouse, I have spent an unforgettable day here in Warsaw. The programme has given us the opportunity to become more familiar with both You and Poland’s history…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Finnish-Polish Business Seminar in Warsaw on 31 March 2015
It is a great pleasure for me to address this Finnish-Polish business seminar. I am happy to see such a prominent group of participants from both countries. This shows that…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the closing ceremony of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun on 1 March 2015
(check against delivery) We have enjoyed a great skiing festival here in Falun. Once again, you have organised outstanding world championships, full of the traditional Swedish hospitality. For us Finns,…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a dinner during the state visit of President of Latvia on 28 January 2015
(check against delivery) It has been a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you, esteemed President Bērziņš, on your state visit to Finland. Your visit underlines the excellent,…
Greeting by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Event on 27 January 2015
(check against delivery) The gates of Auschwitz were opened precisely seven decades ago today. To the survivors of the concentration camp, safety and freedom must have seemed unreal. For their…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2015
Citizens, The past year has left us with many good memories, but also memories that may not grow sweeter with time. We are occupied with three major issues: security, economy…
Greeting by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Kauniala Christmas celebration, 12th December 2014
Honoured war disabled and veterans, ladies and gentlemen, We, the presidential couple, are filled with Christmas spirit immediately upon our visit to you. But it is not only the peace…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the exhibition “Pro Finlandia – Finland’s road to independence” at the National Archives on 2 December 2014
Finland is preparing for the centenary celebrations of its independence. The theme of the jubilee year, in two years’ time, will be an open, learning and pluralistic Finland. These are…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the 211th National Defence Course on 10 November 2014
I wish you a warm welcome to the 211th course. The purpose of the National Defence Course is to provide you with a broad picture of how Finland’s security can…
Greeting by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the 50th anniversary celebration of the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, 11 November 2014
Fifty years ago, in the summer of 1964, representatives of the medical profession gathered here in Helsinki. Their mission was to give a response to some of the darkest events…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Arctic Circle 2014 Opening Session on 31 October 2014 in Reykjavik, Iceland
We like to say that the future of the Arctic is in our hands – for good and for bad. It means we have new opportunities in the North. They…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner on the occasion of the state visit by President of India Pranab Mukherjee, October 15th, 2014
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me and my spouse to welcome you to the state visit in Finland. We are delighted to have you here. Despite…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the State Dinner in Ottawa on October 9th, 2014
Let me start by extending my warmest thanks to the Canadian Government for all the superb hospitality extended to me, my wife and the Finnish delegation during my state visit…
Speech by the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair on 7 October 2014
Finland has the pleasure and privilege to be represented as the theme country for the Frankfurt Book Fair now starting. We are full of enthusiasm about the opportunity to be…
Statement by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the UNGA 69th General Debate on 24 September 2014
(check against delivery) Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, upon your election as the President of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly. I pledge the…
Opening statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at a thematic discussion “Climate, Health and Jobs”, UN Secretary-General´s Climate Summit in New York 23rd September 2014
(check against delivery) I am deeply honored to open and co-chair this discussion about climate, health and jobs. Themes that affect us all, whether we come from small or big…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UN Climate Summit in New York on 23 September 2014
(check against delivery) It is a great honor for me to address this United Nations Climate Summit. I wish to thank Mr. Secretary-General for challenging us to act. Because act…
Statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) United Nations, New York 22 September 2014
(Check against delivery) I’m honored to address the first United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The participation of especially Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, in the Conference and in its preparations…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Canada-Finland business seminar in Helsinki 15th September 2014
It is a great pleasure for me to address this Finnish-Canadian business seminar. I am also pleased to see that such a high-level and numerous business audience is present here…
Speech given by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the 125th anniversary celebrations of ABB at the Expo & Convention Centre in Helsinki on 28 August 2014
Finland and Finns have been involved in a number of ways in the success of the electrical business started up by Gottfrid Strömberg 125 years ago. To put it in…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the ambassador seminar on 26 August 2014
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, exactly 100 years ago, in late summer 1914, Europe suddenly found itself plunged into a major war. Diplomacy was unable to prevent the war or…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö to the new Government on 24 June 2014
Esteemed Prime Minister, distinguished Members of Government, In the election of the Prime Minister, Parliament has placed its confidence in you. I congratulate you on your election. With you as…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö to the outgoing Government on 24 June 2014
Esteemed Member of Parliament Katainen, Thank you for your kind words. I would like to thank you and the Members of your Government for our cooperation of more than two…
Speech given by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a dinner held at the House of the Estates in honour of the Estonian state visit on 13 May 2014
(Check against delivery) It has been a great honour and pleasure for my wife and I to welcome you, President Ilves and Mrs. Ilves, on your state visit to Finland….
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the 2014 Millennium Technology Prize Award Ceremony in Helsinki on 7 May 2014
Check against delivery Today we celebrate an innovator whose discoveries have made a difference in the daily lives of us all. As the Patron of the Millennium Technology Prize, I…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a dinner for the diplomatic corps at Helsinki City Hall, on 29 April 2014
Check against delivery This is the third occasion on which I have had the opportunity to address this esteemed audience. Third time’s the charm, they say! And I am indeed…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner on the occasion of the state visit by President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter, 7 April 2014
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me and my spouse to welcome you to a state visit in Finland. For us this is a great opportunity to…
Remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Nuclear Security Summit on 25 March 2014
Mr Chairman, Since the Seoul Summit further progress has been made in securing nuclear materials, in strengthening national systems and in enhancing international cooperation. I would like to stress a…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of Parliament on 4 February 2014
(check against delivery) The Arab Spring, Syria, and now Ukraine – several factors are common to these events. Governments considered even to be strong have come face to face with…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Rikskonferens Seminar in Sälen on 12 January 2014
It is a great honour to attend the Sälen conference for the first time. I would like to convey my warm thanks to Folk och Försvar for its invitation. I…
Opening Remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Opening Forum of the Gulf of Finland Year 2014 on 21 January 2014
It is a great honour to be with you here today to mark the beginning of the Gulf of Finland Year. I am glad to see so many leading figures,…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2014
Citizens, During the past year, I have met state leaders around the world and you Finns in different parts of our country. Every meeting and discussion has brought me new…
Address by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at Christmas celebration in Kauniala Hospital for disabled war veterans, 13th December 2013
The motto for National Veterans’ Day celebrated in April this year was “No brother left behind, no young people forgotten”. This is an important message for our time. The principle…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the award ceremony of the Friedrich August von Hayek Foundation in Freiburg, Germany, 17 November 2013
This is a very touching moment for me. I am sure I will remember it for the rest of my life. But it is also a touching moment for my…
Remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the dinner at House of Estates on 12 November 2013
(check against delivery) It is a particular pleasure for me and the First Lady to welcome once more Your Excellency and Madam Pohamba and the esteemed delegation from Namibia. We…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Wandelhalle in Parliament in Bern on 15 October 2013
It is a great pleasure for me and my spouse to pay a state visit to your beautiful country. I personally consider this as a great honor, since you accept…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Arctic Forum in Salehard, Russia, 25 September 2013
I am delighted to be here in Salehard today – for the first time. It has been fascinating for me to see the wild nature of Siberia. I have also…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the 150th Anniversary of the Red Cross humanitarian action at the House of Estates on 1 October 2013
In wars and catastrophes, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent are symbols of humanity and hope. They are signs of a genuine will to help. People in need…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s speech at the Annual Ambassadors’ Meeting at Finlandia Hall on 27 August 2013
(check against delivery) Distinguished Ambassadors, once again we are at the end of August, and gathered together to marvel at what is happening in the world during this wild passage…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 8th Global Conference on Health Promotion on 10 June 2013
It is my great pleasure to wish you all warmly welcome to Finland. I am delighted that the World Health Organization has decided to organize this important global meeting in…
Opening remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at Boao Forum for Asia, 7 April 2013
It is indeed a great honour and privilege to open this important meeting. During the past 12 years the Boao Forum has established an outstanding reputation and track-record as the…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the banquet in Fredensborg Castle on 4 April 2013
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness Prince Henrik, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation to make a…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Structural Reform Revitalize the Core Competitiveness of EU – Roundtable at Boao Forum for Asia, 7 April 2013
(check against delivery) In Europe, we have done many things. We have got used to the idea that we– our societies and economies – are the model of success. We…
Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Government lunch on 5 April 2013
Let me start by thanking you for the warm welcome my wife and I have received here in Denmark and for the inspiring discussions I had with the Prime Minister…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the U.S. Embassy’s Innovation Center in Helsinki on 26 February 2013
President Sauli Niinistö and Ambassador Bruce Oreck opened the U.S. Embassy’s Innovation Center. Photo: US Embassy Helsinki (check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me to speak here…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Opening of Parliament on 5 February 2013
(check against delivery) Just under a year ago, at the start of my term in office, the latest amendment to our Constitution entered into force. This change was the culmination…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s New Year’s Speech on 1 January 2013
(check against delivery) Citizens, In my inaugural speech, I repeated my thoughts on what I consider to be important to our nation. I can summarise them in just a few…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, 11th October 2012
Check against delivery It is a great honour to speak before such an esteemed audience. I wish to extend my warmest thanks to our hosts for making this possible. In…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, 25th September 2012
(check against delivery) May I begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, upon your election as President of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Let me assure you…
The Nordic statement by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the UN High Level Meeting on the Rule of Law on 24 September 2012 in New York
(check against delivery) I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland. We express our…
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö’s greetings to the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples in Siófok on 5 September 2012
(check against delivery) I would like to thank the Hungarian hosts of the 6th World Congress for their kind invitation to participate in this World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. This…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö during the appointment and promotion ceremony for cadets at the Presidential Palace on 30 August 2012
Esteemed cadets! I congratulate you on successfully completing the degree of Bachelor of Military Science. I promote cadets with the rank of Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant and appoint cadets to…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Clean Baltic Sea Club on 30 August 2012
(check against delivery) I am pleased to attend the annual forum of the Clean Baltic Sea Club. As the name implies the ultimate goal of the Club and John Nurminen…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the Ambassador Seminar on 21 August 2012
Photo: MFA /Timo Ikonen (check against delivery) I am delighted to be able to address the heads of Finland’s diplomatic missions abroad. This seminar is an important annual event in…
Statement by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the press conference at Google Hamina on 2 August 2012
It is a great pleasure to be present here in Hamina to witness the announcement of Google’s second phase investment into datacenter at the former paper mill. This investment decision…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the plenary session of Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum on 21 June 2012
(check against delivery) The hard times in the world economy have continued for several years now. The situation in Europe is difficult. We have experienced a financial crisis, a debt…
Welcoming remarks by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the reception for the participants of high level seminar “Shaping the Next Generation of Peace Operations” on 31 May 2012
(check against delivery) Peace and security are at the very heart of the United Nations. The organization was founded, in the famous words of the Charter, in order to save…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Meeting on Afghanistan at the Chicago Summit on 21 May 2012
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me to participate in an ISAF meeting here in Chicago. I would also like to thank president Obama for the warm…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Chicago Summit Partnership Event on 21 May 2012
(check against delivery) Mr. Secretary General, thank you for organizing this partnership event. Finland is willing to work closely together with Allies and Partners for a more active and stronger…
Address by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the opening of the World Design Capital Pavilion, Helsinki 10 May 2012
(check against delivery) We are about to open the Pavilion, which will become the busy focus for the World Design Capital city for the summer. The Pavilion is an urban…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö to the diplomatic corps at a banquet at the Presidential Palace on 26 April 2012
(Check against delivery) I would like to welcome you all warmly to this dinner, which has become an annual tradition. I have already met most of you at my inauguration,…
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at a banquet in Stockholm on 17 April 2012
I would like to thank Your Majesty for the kind words you addressed to my country and her people. The relations between Finland and Sweden are indeed extremely good and…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the Stockholm School of Economics on Tuesday, 17 April 2012
(check against delivery) Northern European Perspectives It is a great privilege to speak to you today. I very much appreciate this opportunity to address this distinguished audience here in Stockholm….
Speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö at the ‘Arctic Dimension’ forum Sámi Museum, 3 April 2012
(check against delivery) The Arctic region has become a strategic area of interest in global politics thanks to new shipping routes and an abundance of natural resources. In the future,…
Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö at the 15th Joint Meeting of the Korea-Finland Economic Councils on 26 March 2012
(check against delivery) It is a great pleasure for me to be here today and to attend this festive meeting. I would like to congratulate the Federation of Korean Industries…
Address to top government representatives and top officials by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 March 2012
Check against delivery Mr Prime Minister, I would like to extend my cordial thanks to you for the congratulations and wishes of success you have expressed on your own and…
Address to the Diplomatic Corps by the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 March 2012
Check against delivery Thank you very much Ambassador Rumjantsev for the kind words, which you addressed to me in your capacity as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. I would…
Inauguration speech by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on 1 March 2012
(check against delivery) Having been elected President of the Republic, and having made a solemn declaration to Parliament, I am now taking up the duties of this office. I would…