5.7.2002 Minister of Defence Mr. Jan-Erik Enestam, Remarks at Riga Summit 5-6 July 2002

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me first congratulate our hosts on a pertinent theme for this panel discussion.

"Building a community of shared values" epitomises the spirit, in which the modern Euro-Atlantic community continues to approach the challenges to European security.

We represent a group of societies based on shared values of democracy, free market economy, the rule of law and fundamental human rights. To speak about "shared values" may at first appearance sound rather abstract. But it is precisely these values that bring countries together, enable them to overcome crises and generate new thinking in international security and defence policy co-operation.

One strong indication of the shared values is this Summit meeting here in Riga, and the fact that the "Vilnius 10" group present in this hall today have declared their wish to join NATO - an organisation whose enlargement process and open door policy are key factors in shaping European security.

Another clear and positive sign of new thinking is the recent establishment of the NATO-Russia Council. This forum demonstrates that the Cold War thinking both in NATO and in Russia is finally put aside.

At times we hear arguments claiming that the end of the Cold War has changed the world so much that we could now focus on economics and spend our defence money on other things. This is a seductive thought, but a misleading one, because security is a crucial precondition for economic and political well-being. Our people demand secure and stable environment, in which they can prosper and do business.



Finland is following NATO's enlargement process very closely. In our view the Baltic States' NATO membership will be a stabilising factor for the whole Baltic Sea region.

The issue of Finland's relation to NATO will be a salient topic in domestic discussion throughout next year, as we head towards the spring 2003 parliamentary elections and prepare a new White Paper on security and defence policy in 2004.

I would like to remind you that already now Finland co-operates with NATO in numerous ways, including the NATO-led SFOR and KFOR operations in the Balkans. We want to maintain and strengthen the relationship between NATO and its partners beyond the NATO Summit in Prague, especially in ways that increase the partners' ability to operate with NATO forces in crisis management operations. We also support the efforts to be launched at the Prague Summit, aiming at strengthening security and stability in Caucasus and Central Asia.

When we defend our countries, engage in crisis management or reach out for those in need of support, we are also defending what our nations believe in: democracy, justice, tolerance and respect towards others.

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