YouSaid · the spoken record

Sauli Niinistö

lines on the record: 117
first: 2012-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 11
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Yet we often fail to deliver. We should all look to ourselves to find the root cause of those repeated frustrations. The United Nations is a sum of its members. It is our task to make sure the system rises to the occasion. Mutual understanding and agreement can be increased only through dialogue and a genuine willingness to engage. None of us can afford to dismiss the concerns of the other. None of us has the right to impose our thinking or constructs on others. We. as a global community, have to be prepared to meet each other from a position of mutual respect and with a keen understanding of our common obligation to work together. If we do so. I am convinced that we will find we have much more in common than we had thought.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We have seen devastating floods, drought and wildfires in all parts of the world. We must understand that these are existential questions. It is also important to realize that climate change does not treat us equally or fairly. Those least responsible for it are often the ones who suffer the most. We must raise our collective ambition. New. strong commitments to reduce emissions are urgently needed. And those must be backed by swift and effective action. As Secretary-General Guterres yesterday aptly stated, the United Nations was created precisely for moments like this —moments of maximum danger and minimum agreement. During the years that I have been attending the Assembly, we have seen tremendous challenges. We have also seen concrete efforts to make the multilateral system work better in responding to them.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Earlier this week, we were rightly reminded that the lack of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals has severe implications both for people’s lives and prosperity and for global peace and security. That is a most urgent task: to ensure a sustainable future for all life on this planet, and we are not on track. We need to take our commitments much more seriously. If we fall behind on one goal, the effects are likely to be multiplied in other areas. Climate action is a clear example. Important steps have been taken, but more needs to be done. Any progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals will be undermined if we do not manage to cap global warming at 1.5°C. Climate change and biodiversity loss are challenges that the global community cannot escape. The past summer was yet again the hottest on record.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We must prioritize diplomacy and make full use of the United Nations. Finland has long underlined the importance of the universal and binding nature of human rights. Human rights need to be respected even when our societies face turmoil. In difficult times, the rights of women and girls are often eroded. We need to be decisive in safeguarding those rights. As a member of the Human Rights Council. Finland works together with all stakeholders to uphold universal human rights. No country is perfect when it comes to human rights; we can learn from each other. When one of us fails, the international community needs to ensure accountability for violations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Important treaties have been abandoned. What is left seems to be in jeopardy. Rebuilding and strengthening arms control in the current international environment is difficult, but we have to understand that a world without mutually agreed upon rules and transparency is an unpredictable one. Emerging technologies are further complicating the picture. The risks are mounting. We must come together to tackle those issues. Globally people’s sense of security has decreased to an alarming level. There are over 100 armed conflicts ongoing worldwide. People in Afghanistan, the Sudan and Yemen and in many other countries continue to face enormous humanitarian needs. We should not lose sight of any of those emergencies. I commend the Secretary-General for his vision outlined in the New Agenda for Peace.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The war in Ukraine must not become one of the many protracted conflicts that we are seeing around the world today. Peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is in all of our interests, and it must be the objective. Finland supports Ukraine’s efforts towards a just and lasting peace. But they cannot be Ukraine’s efforts alone. We need as wide an international participation as possible. It is essential that the discussions recently held in Jeddah continue, and the open debate taking place today in the Security Council (see S/PV.9421) is also a very important opportunity to discuss and find avenues forward. Bringing the war to a just end is essential for the Ukrainians, but it may also help to lower tensions on a wider scale. We are witnessing the erosion of the international arms control architecture.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“More than a year and a half ago. Russia launched its large-scale war on Ukraine. Russia’s aggression is a direct violation of the Charter of the United Nations, to which we are all committed. By aiding Ukraine. Finland, together with many other countries, is supporting Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence. For many Finns. Ukraine’s fight for freedom carries echoes of our own history. We too have fought for our freedom and independence against an enemy far greater in size and paid a high price for it. We do not want to see the world regress to a state where the big consider it their privilege to subjugate the small. While the war is directed against Ukraine, it affects us all in both principle and practice. It has serious consequences globally.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The multilateral system remains the best way to respond to the challenges confronting the international community. But that system now finds itself under pressure. As global realities have changed, many have started to question existing structures. As we strive to strengthen multilateral cooperation, all voices must be heard, particularly the critical ones. Instead of rushing to judgment, we need to learn to listen. In my first address here. I spoke of the rapid economic growth in the so-called global South and the tremendous changes it was bringing about. Those changes have been clearly visible for some time now. Asian. African and Latin American countries are powerful geopolitical players. Today’s fastest-growing and most populous economies are to be found in precisely those regions, and that should be reflected in our debates.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“The world has grown even more complicated. Global tensions are running high and great-Power competition is accelerating. Different world views seem to be on a collision course. The theme of this year’s session is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”. That must not remain empty rhetoric. We need to put those words into practice. We all have much to gain from cooperation on an equal footing. The many global challenges that we are facing — from climate change to pandemics, poverty and wars — cannot be solved by one country or group of like-minded countries alone. The opportunities presented by new technologies are also best harnessed together.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“More than 10 years ago. when I addressed the General Assembly for the first time as President of Finland (see A/67/PV.6). the world seemed complicated. In the Middle East and North Africa, many nations had gone through tremendous changes following of a wave of uprisings. Europe was struggling with the deepest financial crisis of its postwar history. People all over the world were affected by instability and conflicts. Yet our common task in this Hall was to create a constructive atmosphere, understand one another and find solutions to the challenges we were facing. And that is why we gather here in New York. It is not just to make speeches or to be seen, but to collectively ensure that our global community is moving in the right direction. Today, as I address this body for the last time. I have to ask: have we succeeded in our task?”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“It is in the interest of all of us that progress in nuclear arms control and disarmament continue beyond the New START Treaty. We call on the United States and the Russian Federation to continue their dialogue on strategic stability with a view to achieving further cuts in their nuclear arsenals. The interlocking global challenges demonstrate that, more than ever, we need a renewed commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core. We must not become indifferent or apathetic in the face of these multiple crises. We must not get used to violations of international law and human rights. We must not close our eyes to the growing needs of the vulnerable. We must not sleepwalk into a climate and biodiversity catastrophe. Nor should we lose sight of hope. There is still time to act.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In the current security environment, the international arms control architecture is increasingly challenged. On the one hand, political tensions erode the functioning of the existing architecture. On the other hand, new technologies create new risks. But we cannot let arms control fail. On the contrary, it needs to be strengthened. For decades, arms control has provided stability and predictability in great power relationships and international relations. To quote Dag Hammarskjold, “disarmament is never the result only of the political situation; it is also partly instrumental in creating the political situation”. The two biggest nuclear-weapon States have a unique responsibility to advance nuclear arms control and disarmament. The others need to follow suit.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In this turbulent world, those who stoke the flames of conflict bear a special responsibility. But we all must ask ourselves: Have we done all we can to avert violence? Have we done what we can to make a positive change? Difficult times call for more diplomacy, not less. We must build and strengthen peace and prevent conflict wherever possible. That is the very core of the United Nations. We also have to be able to respond to emerging threats to peace and security and to move from hindsight to foresight. The report of the Secretary- General on Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) provides us with a blueprint for more effective multilateralism, paving a way to solutions to current and future global problems and strengthening peace. It really is our common agenda, and Finland wholeheartedly supports its implementation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Finland remains a staunch supporter of the work of the International Criminal Court in investigating all grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The number of conflicts in the world is the highest since the Second World War. One-quarter of humankind lives in conflict-affected countries. We must not ignore or forget Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen and other countries where human rights or the conditions for living a decent life are under threat. Increasing geopolitical tensions, as well as the impacts of climate change and the pandemic, are making conflicts more complex and prolonged. Ordinary people bear the brunt. For the first time in its history, the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index has declined for two consecutive years. We simply cannot let that continue.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“To that end, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal in December will be essential. Defending human dignity is a fundamental task of the United Nations. It is up to us, the Member States, to live up to that task. Despite our failures, we also have accomplishments to build on. The Human Rights Council has shown determination. It has worked to ensure accountability for the horrendous acts committed against civilians in Ukraine and Syria. It has raised its voice in support of women and girls in Afghanistan. I want to thank those who supported Finland’s membership of the Human Rights Council. As a member, Finland acts to bring justice to the victims of human rights violations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“In particular, we must honour the commitment of doubling adaptation finance made at the twenty- sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow. I want to underline this — fighting climate change and taking care of the economy are not contradictory. Green transition has a tremendous potential to create jobs, innovations and economic growth, but it has to be done fairly. The alarming loss of the variety of life on our planet should also be a cause for grave concern to all of us. We are on the brink of mass extinction, or perhaps are already there. Again, we need to change course urgently. We humans can thrive and survive only if we learn to coexist with all the other species. We need to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We have seen extreme drought and heat waves across the globe, from the Horn of Africa to Europe, from China to the United States of America. The magnitude of the catastrophe caused by the floods in Pakistan is not yet fully visible, but the destruction is already tremendous. Those are not isolated or local events. They are another a reminder that climate change is an existential threat to humankind. We are on the verge of very dangerous tipping points. That calls for urgent action on two fronts. First, we must change our course before it is too late. Secondly, we urgently need to help those suffering and support those with fewer resources to deal with this threat. Besides mitigating climate change, we must adapt to it.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I would like to commend the Secretary-General and the President of Tiirkiye for their tireless efforts to reach an agreement to secure Ukrainian grain transports. If implemented as foreseen, it will have a major impact on the lives of tens of millions of people in need. In order to respond to the wider challenges of global food security, we need collective action. The goal must be sustainable, inclusive and fair food systems. We also have to accelerate the implementation of other Sustainable Development Goals. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Last year in this Hall, I noted that it is not an exaggeration to say that we are facing a global climate emergency (A/76/PV.4). This summer has proven it.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is an act of aggression, as determined by this very Assembly. Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defence and, judging by the recent reports from the battlefields, it is doing so with admirable courage, strength and efficiency. We, the international community, members of the General Assembly, might not always see eye to eye. We have our differing views, but it is our common obligation to uphold the international rules-based order. We cannot accept, condone or normalize grave violations of international law and human rights. A world where impunity prevails is unjust, unstable and dangerous for all of us. There was a global food crisis even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More than 800 million people in the world were chronically hungry. The war has further worsened this calamity.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“A triple crisis concerning energy, food security and finance is weighing heavily on vulnerable countries, countries that are already suffering the most from the climate crisis and the coronavirus disease pandemic. This truly is a watershed moment. As we gather here, we have an important opportunity to engage in dialogue, to find solutions and to understand the concerns of those most in need. As difficult as it may seem, now is the time to show global solidarity and strengthen multilateral cooperation. The international community can and should emerge stronger from these crises. Russia’s cruel and unprovoked war on Ukraine has now been raging for seven months. It has brought immense sorrow and destruction to the sovereign lands of Ukraine. Russia’s use of force is in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I would like to start by congratulating Mr. Csaba Korosi on his election as the President of the General Assembly at its seventy- seventh session. I also want to thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his determined and skilful leadership of the United Nations. They can both count on Finland’s steadfast support for their important work during these exceptional times. As the theme of this session states, the challenges we are facing are intertwined. Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine. The ripple effects of that war are already far-reaching and severe. They are compounding the pre-existing problems faced by the international community.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“No other organization has the same legitimacy or the same normative impact. No other organization gives hope to so many people for a better world. No other organization can deliver the future we want and the future we deserve. But the United Nations can only succeed if we, its States Members, want to come together and do what is needed and expected of us. That requires more dialogue. That requires more trust. That requires more Helsinki spirit from all of us. In this spirit, Finland continues its unwavering support for the United Nations.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“That will make all of us less secure. We urgently need to remedy the situation. The most important task is to uphold and strengthen the existing arms control architecture. But at the same time, we also need to think ahead with an open mind. We have to develop new solutions to respond to emerging challenges and technologies by strengthening confidence-building, verification and transparency. In nuclear-arms control, Finland welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty. Yet it is also clear that engagement between all the nuclear Powers would be beneficial for global security. The need to come together and save the planet for future generations has rarely been greater. For Finland, the United Nations system is at the core of the rules-based order that we want to defend and the multilateralism that we want to strengthen.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In our human rights policy, we pay special attention to the rights of those in the most vulnerable situations — the ones most exposed to discrimination. Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities is a cross-cutting priority for Finland. Another key theme for us is the rights of all women and girls. The recently launched Generation Equality campaign in which Finland co-leads the action coalition on technology and innovation, has an important role to play in mobilizing different actors for gender equality. In an era of intensifying great power, competition and rapid technological progress, we are also faced with the serious risk of a new arms race. If the unraveling of the international arms control system is allowed to continue, it will reduce predictability and increase the likelihood of unintended escalation.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“The diplomatic toolbox of the Charter of the United Nations needs to be used to its full potential to build peace where needed and to prevent conflicts where possible. For Finland, conflict prevention and mediation are strong priorities. We continue to be ready and willing to offer our good services for constructive dialogue in this regard. In its foreign policy, Finland has long underscored the importance of the universal and binding nature of human rights. Our own experience is that a society flourishes when everyone has an active, equal and meaningful role in it. Finland is a candidate for a seat on the Human Rights Council for the period from 2022 to 2024. As a member of the Human Rights Council, we would do our best to make our human rights priorities work for the benefit of peace, stability and prosperity across the world.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We invite more countries to join the work of the Coalition. The dramatic events in Afghanistan in the past weeks have again reminded us of the fragility of peace and security. The humanitarian needs in the country are immense, and it is critical that we act together to ensure that the people have access to humanitarian assistance. The United Nations entities staying on in Afghanistan play a key role in this regard, and the international community must be steadfast on this issue. Women and girls in Afghanistan must not be forgotten or made invisible. Yet, unfortunately, Afghanistan is just one example. Conflicts, old and new, continue to cause human suffering across the world.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“It is our common responsibility — that of Governments, institutions, companies and individuals — to step up. Well ahead of the meeting in Glasgow, we need more ambitious emission-reduction plans, and we must speed up the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels. To succeed, we need adequate climate financing. As a global community, we have to increase the quality, quantity and accessibility of climate finance, especially to the least developed countries and the small island developing countries. We must also encourage Finance Ministers to take climate change into account in all of their decision-making. The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, co-chaired by Finland and Indonesia, already has more than 60 members. It currently focuses on green recovery, carbon pricing and biodiversity.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In addition, we now know that climate change is proceeding even faster than was previously thought. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we are already likely to reach the 1.5°C temperature rise in the early 2030s. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are facing a global climate emergency. And yet, that urgency is still not reflected in our deeds. The national determined contributions that we, the signatories of the Paris Agreement, have made so far may still put us on track for a 2.7°C temperature rise by the end of this century. The consequences for the planet and for future generations would be catastrophic. We have to use the upcoming twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to put ourselves on a sustainable course.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“We must intensify our efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left further behind. The pandemic has shown that a severe enough concern can push us to take unprecedented steps. In a very short order, we all took more extreme measures to change our behaviour than anyone of us could have imagined before. What would be a sufficient wake-up call for us to do the same for the health of our planet? With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, we already have plenty of documents and road maps to rely on. But talk is not enough. We need to act, and the time for action is now. The rapidly proceeding loss of biodiversity alone should be a cause for immediate global concern.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“Global action is also needed to be better prepared for future pandemics. It is high time to take concrete steps to improve our common health security beyond the current challenges. To improve our resilience, we need a One Health approach. Enhancing international collaboration on research and development and exchanging information on emerging threats are both vital. We must ensure the effective functioning of multilateral global health institutions, such as the World Health Organization. We must also pause to reflect upon the longterm ramifications of COVID-19. It has led to an increase in extreme poverty and inequality and resulted in a deterioration of gender equality. It has seriously affected many countries’ ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“I am convinced that the more we speak about the Helsinki spirit, the closer we get to rekindling it and to making it come true, which will bring us closer to solving our common challenges together. Over a year and half since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we still live in its shadow. Fortunately, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel in many countries. Yet we should resist the temptation to think about health security on a national basis alone. The scientific community has shown a better example than Governments. To end this pandemic, the solution has to be global. For a global response to succeed, we need to ensure equitable access to effective remedies. Working through the COVAX Facility, Finland is strongly committed to vaccine solidarity.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In 1975, 30 years after the United Nations was founded, 35 Heads of State and Government gathered in the Finnish capital to sign the Helsinki Final Act. The letter of that document, still valid today, focused on security and cooperation in Europe. But if we succeed in reviving and expanding the spirit that arose from that meeting, it can have a more global significance. The willingness of adversaries and competitors to engage in dialogue, build trust and seek common denominators was the essence of the Helsinki spirit. Its potential today is by no means limited to the area within the purview of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It is precisely that kind of spirit that the entire world and the United Nations urgently needs.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“If humankind is to make the right choice — a breakthrough, rather than a breakdown — we have to shoulder our human responsibilities and take responsibility for our common future. The task may seem daunting. The past years have witnessed continued and even growing turbulence in the world. Volatility and uncertainty may easily lead to despair. Common solutions may seem far out of reach. At the same time, many trends highlight how interconnected our world is. The pandemic has had an impact on every one of us. The same will increasingly be true of both climate change and emerging technologies. Conflicts no longer remain local or regional. They have consequences, direct or indirect, across the globe. All of these cross-border challenges are crying for a global response. With the right mindset, such a response is within reach.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“At the outset, I would like to congratulate Mr. Abdulla Shahid on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Antonio Guterres on his reappointment as Secretary-General for a second term. Both of them can count on Finland’s full support for their important work. Finland warmly welcomes the ambitious approach put forward in the report of the Secretary-General entitld “Our Common Agenda” (A/75/982). It is easy to agree with one of the key statements in that document: “In our biggest shared test since the Second World War, humanity faces a stark and urgent choice: a breakdown or a breakthrough” (ibid., Summary). We are indeed at a critical juncture.”
2021-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 76 (2021)
“In its Article 2, the Charter states: “All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them”. As much as our environment has changed over time, this principle continues to be true. Only fulfilled obligations lead to rights and benefits. Pacta sunt servanda. Agreements must be kept.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“For Finland, advancing women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality is of fundamental importance. In the Generation Equality process, Finland has a leading role in bridging the digital divide between genders. In the broad value base of Finland’s foreign and security policy, human rights are at the forefront. This, and our long-term commitment to promoting human rights, is why my country is seeking a seat at the Human Rights Council from 2022 to 2024. Secretary-General, Mr. President, At 75 years of age, the Charter of the United Nations remains a remarkable blueprint for the future — for a more peaceful, more sustainable and more just world. But the promise comes with an important condition.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive document ever on the rights of women and girls, was adopted twenty-five years ago. Unfortunately, this anniversary is not the only reason why it is so topical this year. The pandemic has hit women particularly hard. The harsh economic and social implications for women have reversed the progress achieved during the last decades. The attempts to undermine women’s and girls’ rights, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights, continue. In order to get back on the right track, we must live up to the commitments we have made. In addition to the Beijing Declaration, this also applies to the Istanbul Convention, a ground-breaking legal instrument addressing violence against women.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Finland also remains committed to the peacekeeping operations and special political missions of the UN. Ladies and gentlemen, For the rules-based order, the rule of law is essential. All steps towards its consolidation in international relations have meant progress for humanity. Silence and looking away only empower perpetrators and let them escape justice. We need to end impunity for the gravest crimes. This should apply to all, including the strong and the powerful. No government should use the crisis as a pretext to violate human rights or to limit democratic and civic space. No government should adopt measures that undermine the respect of the rule of law and of international commitments.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Excellencies, As any global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, too, can have negative effects on peace and security across the world. It can intensify existing conflicts, stall peace processes and wake up dormant tensions. But it can also offer opportunities for peace. The Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire was a strong appeal for conflict parties to lay down their weapons. And as this year marks the 20th anniversary of resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, we should further emphasize an inclusive approach to peacebuilding. In addition to conflict resolution, we must invest more in conflict prevention. Every conflict avoided is one conflict less to be resolved in the future. Finland advocates the use of mediation for both purposes. We are ready and willing to offer our good services in this regard.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“New actors and new technologies create new kinds of challenges. Old structures and old instruments alone will not be sufficient to respond to them. But discarding existing frameworks would create a dangerous vacuum. Nuclear weapons are becoming a particularly worrying example. With one agreement after the other lapsing, we soon risk losing even the last elements of nuclear arms control. It would be of fundamental importance for the nuclear weapons states to find a way to build mutual understanding and trust. Also in this regard, we support the idea of a closer dialogue between the permanent members of the Security Council. And it does not stop at arms control. At the end of the day, the entire UN system cannot function unless the P5 countries are able to work together.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Multilateralism suffers from inward-looking nationalism and great-power competition alike. The institutions we have built together over decades are under growing pressure. International agreements, norms and principles are increasingly challenged and interpreted in ways which weaken both their potential and their legitimacy. Ultimately, if respect for the commonly agreed rules disappears, there will be not much left of a rules-based order. We need to reverse this trend. More than ever, we need effective multilateral cooperation. More than ever, we need the United Nations. It is not only the common responsibility of all of us — the member states — to make it stronger. It should be obvious that it is our common interest, too. It is equally obvious that all international institutions need to adapt to changing circumstances.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Finland is ready to do its share. The Finnish Government stands firmly behind its aim to make Finland climate neutral by 2035, and thus the world's first fossil-free welfare society. We will continue to integrate sustainable development into our state budget. We are determined to transform Finland into a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society during this decade. And we continue to work actively in international partnerships. The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, led by Finland and Chile, has grown to include more than 50 countries. This cooperation helps countries to integrate climate considerations into economic, fiscal and financial policies. Mr President, Precisely when the demand for global solutions is rising, our ability to provide them is weakening.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Our lives may have been on lockdown this year, but climate change has not stopped for a moment. The urgency of bold and swift climate action is growing by the day. Our commitments to the Paris Agreement must prevail. We must redouble our efforts for their implementation. We must make a virtue out of necessity. As the entire world now needs a recovery strategy, we have to make sure that we choose a road towards a sustainable future. Instead of returning to our unsustainable habits, we truly have to “Build Back Better and Greener”. The Secretary-General’s six principles for “Building Back Better” have our full support. All recovery measures must be assessed from the perspective of their climate and environment impacts. The Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda and the Convention on Biological Diversity need to guide our way forward.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“When this pandemic broke out, our initial reaction was not to unite behind multilateral efforts. Instead of a much- needed global response, we witnessed a series of national responses. Faced with a completely new situation, this may have been understandable. But it does raise concerns on how we will be able to combat other global challenges. Thirdly, however, and this is more encouraging: the past six months have also proven our capability to radical measures when needed. In order to contain the pandemic, governments, societies and individuals were suddenly prepared to change their behavior. As soon as the magnitude of the threat was perceived, unconventional solutions were sought. This gives us hope. Where there is a will, there is a way. We must not lose sight of the even more persistent existential threat to humanity. Climate change.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“From the United Nations. I would like to reiterate our unwavering support for the UN system in general, and the World Health Organization in particular, for their efforts to manage the fight against the pandemic. I also would like to express my appreciation for the strong leadership Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has shown during this crisis. Mr. President, Although the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, it has already taught us a number of important lessons. Firstly, it has shown that we have to take health security much more seriously. Before the next pandemic emerges, we need better prevention and better preparedness. In this work, the Global Health Security Agenda can provide the WHO with valuable support. Secondly, it has unfortunately revealed how we are tempted to react to immediate threats — nationally, not internationally.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Mr President, Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me congratulate Mr. Volkan Bozkir for the election as the President of the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly. You can count on Finland’s support, as you lead this important body during these exceptional times. And the times are exceptional indeed. At the start of this year, nobody could have foreseen that we are not able to gather in New York this September. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all of us hard. Extending around the globe, it is affecting every continent and state, all people, and all areas of life. A pandemic is by definition a global challenge. It requires a global response. No country is able to combat this common enemy alone. No one is safe, until all are safe. An effective global response can only come from all of us together.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Together we are also better able to seize new global opportunities, and there is no organization better placed to lead that work than the United Nations. In order to unleash its full potential, it is our responsibility to reduce the trust deficit.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Unfortunately, there is not much cause for celebration. We are deeply worried to see that sexual and reproductive health and rights are now being questioned. Finland remains strongly committed to advancing the rights of women. Respect for universal human rights is the key to a peaceful and just world. Finland strongly believes in multilateral cooperation on human rights, with the Human Rights Council as its cornerstone. Accordingly, we have announced Finland’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the period from 2022 to 2024. As the United Nations nears its seventy-fifth anniversary, the Organization may well be more important than ever. Our shared global problems cry out for shared global solutions.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is our collective duty to seek solutions to the many ongoing wars and conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere. Of at least equal importance is preventing new conflicts from breaking out in the first place. Finland has always emphasized the value of dialogue in its own diplomatic relations. We are also happy to provide our good offices to assist others. Trust in each other is also closely linked to equality between genders and among generations. The future of our planet lies on the shoulders of today’s young women and men. The inclusion of women and young people in peace processes, conflict prevention and mediation has proven to be decisive. We are approaching the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive policy documents ever for advancing the rights of women.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“With the collapse of the INF Treaty and the uncertain future of the New START Treaty, the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons next year is now of utmost importance. We should also be able to address other weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons and completely new weapon technologies. We can only manage those challenges together. Finland therefore fully supports the Secretary-General’s efforts to bring the disarmament agenda back to the core of the United Nations. Thirdly and to conclude, I will turn to trust in each other. Trust among States and trust among individuals is the fundamental basis for peace and security. In the absence of trust, the potential for conflict grows and once conflicts have erupted, their resolution always requires rebuilding trust.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)