The Ministry for Foreign Affairs celebrated its 90-year history
"It was exactly the same date 90 years ago that the Senate of J. K. Paasikivi was appointed. One of the members was Senator of Foreign Affairs Otto Stenroth, the first Foreign Minister of Finland that had gained its independence six months earlier," Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said in his opening speech of the Ministry’s 90th anniversary seminar on 27 May. The anniversary seminar, organised in the assembly hall of Helsinki University, brought together some 500 listeners. The Ministry will continue its 90th anniversary year in August with a big event to be held in a tent at Merikasarmi of Katajanokka.
Continuity as the strength of Finnish foreign policy
In his speech, Foreign Minister Stubb emphasised continuity and unanimity as the strengths of Finnish foreign policy. The history of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and foreign policy is part of Finland’s success story. However, more important than looking into the rear-view mirror is the understanding of the changes in the world around us and spotting the challenges ahead of us, Stubb reminded us. Stubb also brought up the importance of openness which, in the management of foreign policy, means bringing the matters where the people are.
Stubb also addressed the savings measures of the State Productivity Programme that force the Ministry to cut resources at the same time as the demands of the citizens for the services of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are increasing. The physical internationalisation of Finnish people requires an extensive network of representatives. On the other hand, the changes in the global balance of power towards a multipolar world require Finnish presence in places that earlier in our history we have regarded as distant. The core mission of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is to manage relations with other states and international organisations.
Cooperation more important in management of foreign affairs than before
In her anniversary greeting, President of the Republic Tarja Halonen presented her warm congratulations to the energetic Foreign Ministry and her thanks to the Ministry staff for excellent cooperation and valuable work that the Ministry is doing for both our own country and the world we all share.
President Halonen reminded the listeners that, in accordance with the principles of democracy, each country can and should have differing opinions even about foreign policy, but the state itself can only have one line of foreign policy. Halonen estimated that we have a new world and new challenges ahead of us, but also new opportunities. The interdependence of matters has increased, demanding wider expertise and readiness for cooperation at the Ministry. Halonen wished that the Foreign Ministry would remain constantly active in the creation of a better world.
The management of Finland’s foreign affairs before independence
Professor Matti Klinge presented a comprehensive overview of the history of Finland before independence, during the eras of Swedish rule and the autonomy. Professor Klinge was also of the opinion that continuity has been a characteristic feature of Finnish management of foreign affairs – even before independence. For instance, the examination of borders helps us to realise the essential nature of continuity.
Klinge explained that the background of Finland’s international competence – and, consequently, also the diplomatic proficiency – can be described from the viewpoint of its long history, its continuity. The radical changes have taken place outside of Finland and Finns have had to adapt themselves to them, while always striving to maintain as much as possible of their old continuity.
From Stenroth to Stubb
In his lecture, Ambassador Klaus Törnudd went through the Foreign Ministers of the era of Finnish independence and the history of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry started its operation in 1918 with 17 officials under the leadership of Foreign Minister Stenroth. The number of staff has grown significantly since then, but the mission and the meaning of the Foreign Minister have not changed over the past 90 years, Törnudd estimated.
Finland has had 69 governments with a foreign minister over the past decades. In these governments, 38 people have served as foreign ministers, but two prime ministers have acted as foreign ministers alongside their other task. In other words, only 36 people have acted as Foreign Ministers during our independent history, only one of them being female to present day. 11 of them are alive today. As many as 42 times the person who has served in the office earlier has been appointed to Foreign Minister again. In other words, continuity has been quite common even at a personal level.
Serving at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on four decades
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen told that his service at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs amounts to almost 12 years over the last 31 years. He expressed his warm thanks to all his former and current colleagues for good cooperation. Väyrynen is of the opinion that Finnish diplomats have been and still are an elite group of people over whose loyalty there has never been any doubts.
According to Minister Väyrynen, the excessive Europe-centricity adopted in the 1990s is still affecting the thinking and actions of many Finns. One indication of that is the fact that global thinking has been quite poorly adopted by our decision-makers, which becomes visible in the reluctance to raise our development co-operation appropriations to the promised level.
Väyrynen estimated that the powers vested on the President of Finland serve Finland’s interests well, since the President offers us another channel to maintain relations with countries lead by a president, which there are plenty of especially outside the EU, many great and significant states included. Väyrynen’s contribution to the NATO debate was his own estimate that NATO may have changed, but this fact does not necessarily support Finland’s membership in the organisation. According to him, under the prevailing conditions, maintenance of the NATO option serves Finland’s security interests better than exercising the option would.
When the Walls Came Tumbling down
Minister Pertti Paasio who served as Foreign Minister at the turn of the 1990s reviewed his term in office. In his speech, Paasio pointed out that joining the European Union gave Finland a chance to join a community of countries like it with other countries like it. The breaking of mental and political barriers in Europe had made this possible. On the other hand, Paasio agreed with Minister Väyrynen’s views in that there is also need for global thinking.