“Biased and misleading claims”, answers Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb
Alexander Stubb
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By Alexander Stubb
I called Frank. He has not read more than the two speeches of mine that he mentioned. A broader acquaintance would have knocked the foundation out from beneath his arguments, which I find to be biased and misleading. Naturally it is possible to get publicity for issues through many means - also unfair ones.
Throughout my career I have based my thinking on respect for human rights, democracy, freedom, and justice. I have emphasised these values as Foreign Minister in speeches, writings, and meetings.
I have criticised Guantánamo, called on the United States to join the International Criminal Court, and sought to promote human rights and democracy within the OSCE.
I wrote in Helsingin Sanomat on May 29th, that the right to national self-determination is used as a smokescreen behind which human rights violations take place. On my website I point out that human rights policy is a solid and inseparable part of Finland’s foreign policy - not a separate island.
I intend to continue my work on behalf of human rights. In the autumn, an Ambassador for Human Rights and Democracy began work at the Foreign Ministry, whose tasks include implementation of policy lines on human rights, and the integration of it with other activities.
We promote the same goals in various fora, including the UN, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
The central tool of our human rights policy is the EU, through which we take stands on human rights violations that take place in different parts of the world, where we engage in dialogue, and where we try to support human rights activists working under difficult conditions. The EU has also not fallen silent on the excesses in the war against terrorism.
Johansson criticises the current Afghan leadership, forgetting completely what the alternative would be - a return to the tyranny of the Taleban?
Military and civilian crisis management complement each other in Afghanistan and Kosovo. In Afghanistan our goal includes the holding of democratic elections. This requires the presence of the international community - including soldiers to protect polling stations and voters.
Johansson asks why I said in London that the EU and NATO are examples of functioning organisations that are undergoing renewal. The reason is that it is true. NATO and the EU have expanded, while at the same time, they have taken responsibility for crisis management missions outside their own territory.
The UN needs NATO and the EU to implement their own initiatives. The EU is, in fact, the most successful peace movement in history.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 21.2008
The writer is Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
More on this subject:
 DEBATE: “Why has Foreign Minister Stubb forgotten justice?”
Previously in HS International Edition:
Stubb wants to get OSCE to agree on political declaration (21.11.2008)
Helsingin Sanomat
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