Halonen expresses condolences in New Year’s Day Address, and speaks of "Finland’s largest peacetime catastrophe"
Tarja Halonen
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In her New Year’s Day Address, President Tarja Halonen repeated her deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami catastrophe in Southern Asia. She also offered her sympathies to the injured and to those who are unsure of the fate of their nearest and dearest.
"There are more than 200 Finns reported dead or still missing in the disaster. Although one should never extinguish the hope in our hearts, we should prepare ourselves for the fact that this is the largest peacetime catastrophe to overtake this country in the modern era", said Halonen.
She thanked those who have helped the victims of the disaster from Finnish society, the government authorities, municipalities, NGOs, the churches, and countless individuals and organisations. She also extended her gratitude beyond the country’s borders, particularly to those local people in the areas affected who were the first to begin the rescue work in the disaster zones.
Halonen stressed the need for long-term assistance from the international community for those who have lost homes, livelihoods, and security, calling on all Finns to shoulder their part of the burden in helping the victims to rebuild their shattered lives.
"We have in the past several days learnt in all too concrete fashion how we collectively inhabit a shared world. We can overcome despair only by working together. Wellbeing and security are nationally and internationally inseparable", Halonen observed.
Given the exceptional nature of the circumstances, with Finland entering the New Year in official mourning and under flags at half-staff, Halonen made no references in her address to other events that took place in the past 12 months in Finland or on the world stage.
Note: The link below is to an earlier statement made by President Halonen on 29.12.2004. A link to the English transcript of her New Year's Day speech will be added as and when it appears on the Presidential website.
More on this subject:
 UPDATED SATURDAY 1.1. Police post revised list of missing persons: 193 Finns still unaccounted for in Thailand
Medivac flight patients in hospital care
Revised police list of missing persons, Saturday 1.1.2005
Finnish forensic team leaving for Thailand
Links:
Statement by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen on the catastrophe in South Asia (29.12.2004)
Helsingin Sanomat
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