Three R-words that Shook Finland

If you want to make headlines in Finnish politics, say something not politically correct about Russia. 

The new Minister of Defence, Jyri Häkämies, by giving a speech in Washington D.C., did exactly that. What did he say? Well, he said only, "Russia, Russia and Russia."

It does not sound very sexy yet, but put into Finnish historical and political context, those three words uttered in early September on the other side of the world shook Finland for weeks.

The average foreign reader, not so well-versed with Finnish nuances and codes of political correctness, is easily at loss. That is why an explanation is dearly needed. Here it comes. Welcome to the house of mirrors, Finnish style!

Mr. Häkämies, a first-timer in Finnish government, made big news on his maiden visit to Washington D.C. The itinerary was filled with meetings with U.S. defence and foreign policy bigshots, including Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. Mr. Häkämies made a speech at CSIS, a regular podium for foreign dignitaries. 

 What did he say?

The speech, titled rather fittingly Finland: Similar Yet Different, was to a 99.9 per cent degree an up-to-date, yet an unsurprising run-through of Finnish positions on different security and defence policy issues. But it was the remaining 0.1 per cent that counted in Finland.

Here is the verbatim quote. "In general, Finland is privileged to be located in one of the safest corners of the world. However, given our geographical location, the three main security challenges for Finland today are Russia, Russia and Russia. And not only for Finland, but for all of us", Mr. Häkämies said.

Then he went on to discuss Russia becoming a world player again, strenghtening its military capabilities and showing its military muscle in the High North. Mr. Häkämies concluded his remarks on Russia with the following words, "What does this all mean from the point of view of Finland's national security? I think it would be a foolish - and mistaken - conclusion to draw that the new Russia will threaten Finland's security. This is not the case. What it means, first and foremost, is that those who at the end of the Cold War were eager to proclaim that the era of geopolitics was over in the North of Europe were just plain wrong. Geopolitics is back, and it is back with force, and we who have the responsibility for Finland's national defence must draw certain conclusions."

In general, what Mr. Häkämies said about Russia was frank in Finnish terms, both politically and rhetorically, rarely if ever heard from first-rank politicians and officials of this country. Elsewhere, outside Russia of course, this kind of style is nothing extraordinary. To an American think-tank audience it might have even sounded something bordering boring.

What was said in Finland?

The famous, or infamous if you like, three R-words entered the Finnish soundbite awareness in the late afternoon news. The domestic thunderstorm started rightaway and it had not abated while this was written. It would be an all but impossible task to find a politician who would not have commented Mr. Häkämies' speech. The repetitive rhetorical style of saying or writing a word thrice has even become a popular joke and part of folklore. Op-ed writers munched the juicy story day in and day out.

Situated next to Russia and sharing a 1,300 kilometer border with it, Finland has an ancient and not always an easy common history with it. The two wars fought between 1939 and 1944 left scars that can still itch. Time and again the past keeps coming back.

For example, just recently there was a lively debate, whether Russia of the early 1990's was really willing to let Finland buy back Karelia, an area in eastern Finland annexed to the U.S.S.R as a result of the WW2.

The reaction to Mr. Häkämies' choice of words was mixed, to put it diplomatically. In plain language, it ranged from utter fury to quiet acceptance. And, as it often happens when a debate really gets going in Finland, the message started to twist along the way.

For example, although Mr. Häkämies carefully used the word "challenge", in some Finnish (and also Russian) comments it turned quickly into "threat". Also, the debate spilled over to questions like who is ultimately in charge of foreign policy, whether there is a crisis in the government and who has the rigth to talk about foreign policy.

The most acid comments were heard from the ranks of the Social Democratic Party, now in opposition. Erkki Tuomioja, the former Foreign Minister, said Mr. Häkämies and his party, the moderate Conservative Coalition Party, were blurring the foreign policy line. According to Eero Heinäluoma, the Social Democratic Party Chairman, Mr. Häkämies' comments raised uncertainty and concern in Russia and even in the U.S.

Mr. Tuomioja dashed to wonder, whether the President had been briefed on the speech in advance. The Secretary General of the President's Office, Mr. Jarmo Viinanen admitted that the speech had been sent to him a week before; he said he did not have the time to read it carefully. It was also reported that Ilkka Kanerva, the Conservative Foreign Minister, had the speech in advance, but did not react.

Also Tarja Halonen, the President, joined the fray on several occasions. She called Mr. Häkämies' choice of words "personal" and alluded that they may give a reason to wonder, where Finland stands. The President also let it to be known that she discusses foreign policy issues only with the prime minister and the foreign minister, not with the defence minister. According to the Constitution, The President directs Finland's foreign policy in co-operation with the Government.

Matti Vanhanen, The Center Party Prime Minister, was left between the rock and the hard place. On the one hand, he dutifully defended Mr. Häkämies' speech and questioned only his rhetoric. On the other hand Mr. Vanhanen supported President Halonen by saying that security and defence policies are subordinate to foreign policy.

Finally, the heat put on Mr. Häkämies proved to be overwhelming. He blinked by saying he would reconsider his rhetoric if he were to give the speech again. Mr. Kanerva (who is in closest terms with President Halonen from the Conservatives) stepped in by calling his party colleague's choice of words unsuccessful. He called Russia a reality to Finland. President Halonen chose to call Russia a positive challenge. 

A new situation

Although the reason for the spout was rather unexpected, it is no surprise that a new round of discussion about foreign and security policies has started. There are several reasons to that.

First, the Conservatives hold now three major positions in foreign and security policy hierarchy. The posts of foreign and defence ministers plus the chair of foreign affairs committee of the Parliament are in their hands. Finland has not had a Conservative as Foreign Minister for over 70 years, and the Social Democrats chaired the foreign affairs committee from the early 1930's without a break.

Secondly, the President has been elected from the Social Democrats since 1981 and the President has often been flanked by a Social Democratic foreign minister. The Party's all-out dominance over foreign and security policy was broken in the last parliamentary elections. The Social Democrats' only trump card left is the Presidency.

Although the Conservative onslaught has so far been more words and less deeds, there might be more to come. In August, Jyrki Katainen, the Party Chairman and the Minister of Finance, spoke for "active and realistic" foreign policy. Its opposite is "nostalgic shunning and eye-closing idealism that at its worst can approach double standards". That was a barely hidden punch at President Halonen and especially Mr. Tuomioja. Sauli Niinistö, the Conservative Speaker of the Parliament, poured more oil on the flames by calling for "new foreign policy".

However, it would be really a surprise if the basic tenets of Finnish foreign and security policy would change before the next elections due in 2011. Anyway, a new kind of debate has started and is likely to continue.

by Kyösti Karvonen, Managing Editor of the newspaper Kaleva

Published September 24, 2007