President Halonen warns British leaders about the risks in using force in Iraq

Appointments to the next European Commission also discussed during London visit

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The situation in Iraq took centre stage in talks between President Tarja Halonen and British leaders on the first day of the President’s visit to Britain.
      Halonen met with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in London on Tuesday. Also discussed during the meeting was the issue of appointments to the next European Commission.
     
Halonen did not feel a need to give any advice to the British on handling the Iraq situation.
      "There are always risks in using force", the President said after her discussions with Straw. She repeated this view later in a speech she gave at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).
      Halonen said that both Finland and the UK agree that power in Iraq should be moved as quickly as possible into the hands of the Iraqis themselves.
      Straw said that he believes that it is still possible to meet the June deadline for a transfer of power.
     
Discussions on the European Union focused largely on the question of the planned constitution, and the filling of key posts in the European Commission.
      Finland’s Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen (SDP) has shown interest in the post of Commission President.
      After her meeting at Downing Street, Halonen said that she agreed with Prime Minister Blair, who said that the best person should get the job.
      She said that Blair’s view of the issue was to first look at the names of the applicants, and only then at the results of the European Parliament elections.
     
Jack Straw described Lipponen as a "very good man", but would not promise Britain’s support for his candidacy.
      Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) said on Tuesday that Lipponen might have a chance as a compromise candidate.
      "The Brits have not hinted about a candidate of their own even in passing", said Tuomioja as he paid for two large plastic bags full of books at Waterstone’s book store.
      Problems in the Balkans also came up in Halonen’s discussions with British leaders.
      In the President’s view, pacifying the Balkans must not be overshadowed by Iraq.
      In her speech at the RUSI Institute, Halonen emphasised the need for Europe to have good relations with both the United States and Russia.
     
The President called for closer dialogue so that the growing transatlantic agenda and problems in cooperation might be solved.
      "There is no shortcut to happiness. The transatlantic relationship requires constant work and commitment on both sides of the Atlantic", she said to the listeners.
      She also said that broad security defence tasks are well suited to the EU. She also said that crisis management abilities should be used in cooperation with NATO, and that any operations should have a mandate from the UN Security Council.
     
Before the political programme of the visit, President Halonen and her husband, Dr. Pentti Arajärvi had noon tea with Queen Elizabeth II.
      "We spoke of EU integration, globalisation, and the Queen’s visit to Finland in 1976", Halonen said.
      She added that the Queen was "very well informed" about Finnish affairs.
     
Arajärvi and the President’s daughter Anna visited the National Gallery. Anna Halonen, who studied in Britain, is to meet with some of her former fellow students later during the visit.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Halonen begins visit to Great Britain (11.5.2004)

Links:
  Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence And Security Studies (RUSI) on 11 May 2004

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