Halonen begins second term as President

President wants Finland to adhere to decisions on increasing development cooperation

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President Tarja Halonen, 62, began her second six-year term as President on Wednesday, giving the traditional affirmation or solemn declaration of office in front of a plenary session of Parliament.
      Parliamentarians stood to hear the President's affirmation that she would faithfully follow Finnish laws and promote through all means the well-being of the people.
      In her address after the official inauguration, Halonen expressed concern about increasing differences in income, neo-poverty, worker exhaustion, low pay for women, and regional and social inequality.
     
Halonen also took a firmer stand than before in calling on Finland to adhere to the commitment to raising Finnish development cooperation funding to 0.7 percent of GDP by 2010.
      On foreign policy, Halonen emphasised steadfastness and consistency - two qualities which she said formed her basic line of foreign policy.
     
In contrast to her first inaugural address six years ago, Halonen did not say anything about NATO, or about Finland's possible membership in it.
      In 2000, the new President said that Finland has no need to prepare for applying for NATO membership. This was seen as a key part of the speech, and indeed, Finland did not apply for membership during her first term.
      This time, the tone was different, focusing on general international cooperation, and noting that "No country, however strong, can manage on its own."
      "By participating actively in the work of the United Nations and of other international organizations, Finland is working with other countries towards the achievement of stable development in the world. A more just world is a safer world, and also a better place for us to live in."
     
The Speaker of Parliament, Paavo Lipponen, said in his speech that he hoped for open-mindedness with respect to the future decisions on Finnish security policy.
      At the end of his speech, Lipponen wished Halonen the blessings of God. President Martti Ahtisaari concluded his inaugural speech in 1994 invoking divine blessings on the country. However, Halonen, who is not a member of any religion, has not made any references to the higher forces.
     
The spartan ceremony in Parliament lasted 20 minutes - somewhat shorter than in situations in which a new head of state takes office; there was no outgoing president making any speeches.
      Watching the ceremony from the public gallery were diplomats, generals, top civil servants, as well as former President Mauno Koivisto, who has been retired for 12 years, his wife Tellervo Koivisto, Eeva Ahtisaari, the wife of Halonen's predecessor Martti Ahtisaari, as well as President Halonen's husband Pentti Arajärvi. Former President Ahtisaari himself is currently on a mediation mission in Kosovo.


Links:
  Inauguration speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen, March 1st, 2006

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