Halonen delaying her announcement about second term

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On a regular Saturday discussion programme on the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s TV1, President Tarja Halonen was asked if she would run for a second term in the office. She answered that she would announce her plans after the municipal elections, but did not wish to give any definite date.
      Among the Finnish party leaders, Matti Vanhanen (Centre) and Jyrki Katainen (National Coalition Party) have announced that their parties are prepared to name candidates of their own. Katainen has stated that he will not run for the presidency himself, while Vanhanen will reveal his plans in twelve months.
     
In the interview, Halonen also referred to the deadly attack in New York three years ago and to the recent school siege in Russia’s North Ossetia. She urged decision-makers worldwide to rethink their policy and tactics in the international war on terror, in order to find more permanent solutions to the problems behind terrorism.
      President Halonen also commented on the decision made by the government on Friday that Finland would join the Ottawa Treaty in 2012 and eliminate infantry landmines by 2016. She had hoped for an earlier date, but was satisfied that the decision had finally been made.
      In an interview published in the special jubilee issue celebrating 100 years of publication of the newspaper Uusimaa, Halonen noted that Turkey will still have plenty of work ahead, before it can join the European Union.
     
Turkey will be accepted as soon as it is regarded as having reached the preconditions for accession, according to President Halonen.
      Currently, a debate is being held within the EU over whether to formally open membership discussions with Turkey.


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