New Year's Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland on 1 January 2005

Citizens, today the flags are flying at half-mast throughout our country. Last year ended in great sorrow. The devastation caused by the huge waves that followed the underwater earthquake near Indonesia on 26 December was exceptionally widespread. The catastrophe is one of the worst - if not the worst - in decades.

The enormity and severity of the devastation has gradually come to light. It stretches from Indonesia to Thailand, the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and even the shores of East Africa. It has not spared Finnish homes either. The catastrophe affects the entire international community.

Today the death toll from the tsunami is over 100,000. More than 200 Finns have died or are still missing. The number of injured is much larger, along with those who have lost their homes and belongings. Though we should not kill all hope in our hearts, we must be prepared to face the biggest peacetime catastrophe we have ever endured.

Citizens,

I again offer my condolences to those who have lost relatives and loved ones and my sympathy to the injured and to those who do not know what has become of loved ones. You are not alone. Your grief and concern are shared by us all. We want to be at your side now and in the future.

I thank everyone who has rushed to help and support those in need. This has included all of Finnish society: the state, local authorities, civic groups, the church and countless individuals and organizations. I also want to thank people outside Finland, above all the local people who started rescue work in the disaster area.

Relief work is under way. The last Finnish evacuation flight is tomorrow, but we will continue to help the other Nordic countries in the air. Effectively helping local people and tourists remains a demanding task that requires international aid in addition to the efforts of public authorities and relief workers in the region. In the aftermath of the disaster preventive measures must be taken so that communicable diseases, water shortages and the lack of medical care do not result in more victims.

The people and nations in the region also need long-term international cooperation. People have lost their homes and perhaps everything else. Rebuilding work is a great economic challenge for them.

Many nations, including Finland, and numerous international organizations have sent relief workers, supplies and funds to the region. The international relief operation is unprecedented in scope and will take a long time.

I appeal to all Finns to join in helping the victims of this international disaster and repairing the damage.

In the past few days we have experienced all too concretely how we live in a shared world. We can overcome suffering only by working together. Prosperity and security are nationally and internationally indivisible. We need cooperation that protects people and gives even the poorest countries a chance to develop.

The United Nations' role in promoting international security and development is indispensable. Discussion and preparations to reform the organization and make it more effective continued all last year. The UN has just begun the biggest operation in its history to aid the victims of the catastrophe in South East Asia. Finland will continue to play an active part in UN work. Our goal is a UN that is strong and effective in today's world.

Citizens,

This week's catastrophe will mark our daily lives for some time. Many people's lives will be marked forever. I am still confident that all of us will face it together.

Many important things happened in our country last year, and I had intended to talk about them on New Year's Day. Now the new year is beginning on an exceptionally sorrowful note, but there are many reasons to believe in a brighter future. Finland is still a good place to live. Let us stand by one another and trust in the power of working together.

Finally, I would like to thank you on behalf of my husband and myself for your cooperation and numerous contacts. Your support and interest in the management of public affairs has been important. I wish all of you a good year in 2005.