President Tarja Halonen denounces United States policy on terrorism

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Finnish President Tarja Halonen has criticised as a mistake the recent attempt by the United States Administration to redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention banning cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners.
      In an extensive interview with Helsingin Sanomat in New York, where she was attending the United Nations General Assembly, Halonen indicated that ends do not justify means in the war against terrorism, because "non-democracy and violations of human rights are a contagious disesase".
      A few hours after Halonen’s interview, President George W. Bush reached a compromise with a number of rebel Republican Senators, in which Bush stepped back from his demand to change the US interpretation of Article 3.
     
Halonen also insisted that relations between Finland and the United States were in good shape. She also dismissed concerns over the fact that she has not been invited to the White House, or that President Bush has not visited Finland.
      The Finnish President welcomed the Bush Administration’s calls for reform at the United Nations. She was also pleased that in his address to the General Assembly, Bush underscored the importance of a two-state solution to the problems of the Middle East.
     
President Halonen praised the work of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who leaves his post in December, calling him a "brilliant, brilliant, brilliant" leader of the organisation.
      Halonen did not give her support to the only woman candidate in the race for Secretary-General - Latvia’s President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The Finnish President feels that the next holder of the post should be from Asia.
      "Pushing forward a woman is linked with these other factors. In other words, I hope that there would be a geographical dimension, UN experience, and everything that has been called for here", Halonen said.
     
The full article on Halonen’s interview will be included among our weekly features on Tuesday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Halonen in TV interview: No problem in ties with USA (11.9.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat