New US Ambassador in Helsinki emphasises importance of war against terror

Barbara McConnell Barrett: "Deep friendship more important than recent differences"

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She has a dazzling CV, an adventurous character, a top-notch businessman as a husband, a focus on the war against terror, and an interest in environmental and energy questions.
      These are the characteristics of the new US Ambassador to Finland, Barbara McConnell Barrett, who will soon take the post recently vacated by her predecessor Marilyn Ware.
      Barret met Finnish journalists and with Finnish Ambassador Pekka Lintu in Washtington on Monday. She appeared to have learned well in advance about how cautiously the NATO question should be discussed with Finns.
     
Barrett praised NATO as a "wonderful alliance", pointing out that it is possible to work with NATO in many ways, either as a member, or as a partner, as Finland is doing now.
      Barrett said that she appreciates Finland's efforts in Afghanistan, for example.
      At her Senate hearing before her appointment was confirmed, Barrett said that she feels that the most important task of the US Embassy in Helsinki is "high-level cooperation in the fight against terrorism".
      She sees terrorism as a threat to Finland as well.
      "Terrorism is not visible until it becomes a tragedy", she said, underscoring the philosophy of President George W. Bush who appointed her.
     
The Ambassador said that although Finns have been very critical of US foreign policy, especially during the Bush presidency, the deep friendship between the two countries weighs significantly more than the differences of recent years.
      Barret, who comes from Arizona, has been characterised as an economic and political supporter of President Bush. However, she did not go into further detail about her relationship with the President.
      She said that she has known the Republican Presidential candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain for the past 25 years.
     
A lawyer by training, Barrett's CV is impressive.
      Before the age of 30 she had been on the boards of two Fortune 500 companies. She was also the first woman pilot to have landed a Hornet jet fighter on an aircraft carrier, and has also been in a high administrative position in the Federal Aviation Administration.
      She has worked diligently to improve the lot of women around the world.
      In 2003 she was appointed chairwoman of the State Department's US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.
     
Barrett has visited Finland several times. Her hobbies include cross-country skiing and horseback riding. In August last year she climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
      Her husband Craig Barrett plans to stay in Helsinki only temporarily, as he has obligations at home, such as serving as Chairman of the Board of the technology giant Intel.
      In 2000 the Barretts donated ten million dollars to Barbara Barrett's alma mater, Arizona State University, which is the biggest donation ever granted to ASU.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Presidential candidate Obama would gladly see Finland join NATO (10.4.2008)
  New U.S. Ambassador to Finland is former Hornet pilot (4.4.2008)

Links:
  Embassy of the United States, Helsinki, Finland
  Barbara Barrett (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat