Helsinki Process culminates at the Helsinki Conference 7-9 September
Press release 259/2005
1 September, 2005
Helsinki Process chaired by Finland and Tanzania will reach its culmination in Helsinki Conference, to be held on 7-9 September at Finlandia hall. Approximately 400 participants are gathered at the conference, which aims to generate political will and new type of coalitions in order to implement a fairer globalisation.
"Global governance suffers from a lack of consistency and efficiency as well as democratic deficit. To remedy this democracy deficit requires listening to the voices of developing countries and new international actors", says Ilari Rantakari, ambassador for the Helsinki Process.
Last June the international Helsinki Group released a report suggesting that cooperation between governments, international organisations, private sector and non-governmental organisations could be one way of solving global problems. This multistakeholder model will be tested in Helsinki Conference
round tables, which are seeking solutions to the UN millenium development goals.
Thematic seminars, key dialogues and round tables
The programme during the first day of the Helsinki Conference consists of a public event focusing on security and a press event after which the conference host Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, gives a speech together with his Tanzanian colleague. Five thematic seminars are run by non-governmental organisations and topics include women, child labour, health as a bridge for peace, education, and EU in global affairs.
During the second day there are four key dialogues which discuss the global role of parliamentarians, marginal voices, health as a key for security and economic development as well as new sources of development aid. The results of the five round tables will be reported in the morning of the third conference day. The topics include poverty and development, human rights, environment, peace and security as well as good governance.
Presidents of Finland and Tanzania inaugurate the conference
The second day of the conference will begin with an official inauguration, where Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic, Benjamin Mkapa, President of Tanzania and José Antonio Ocampo, Under Secretary General, representative of the United Nations' Secretary General, will hold a speech. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, will describe the aims and the outcome of the Helsinki Process. Maria Livanos Cattaui, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, Martin Khor, Director of Third World Network, Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, Prince of Jordan El Hassan bin Talal, and Strobe Talbott, the United States former Deputy Secretary of State, will discuss the creation of political will and new coalitions of action.
The third day of the conference will include a discussion on multistakeholder cooperation, facilitated by Poul Nielson, Former European Commissioner. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will initiate the final session by his address on globalisation. This will be followed by Finnish and Tanzanian Foreign Ministers' addresses on the outcome of the conference. "Our aim is also to contribute to the UN Summit, which will be held directly after the conference in New York", Ambassador Ilari Rantakari and National Secretary of Tanzanian team Omary Mjenga said.
Friends of the Helsinki Prosess will assemble on 9 September
As a result of the diplomatic work of the Helsinki Process, alongside Finland and Tanzania there is a supporting group of 12 governments, Friends of the Helsinki Process. The countries are Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
In the summer, these countries held a senior officials' meeting, where they dedicated themselves to promoting the model of cooperation and started the preparation for common actions in regard to eight themes. In the senior officials' meeting to be held in the connection of the Helsinki Conference on 6 September, these countries will prepare the decisions to be made in the Foreign Ministers' meeting on 9 September.
Further information: on Helsinki Process: Ambassador Ilari Rantakari, tel. +358 9 1605 6192, [email protected], ja Tansanian tiimin kansallinen sihteeri Omary Mjenga, puh. 044 911 7861, sekä Helsinki-konferenssin ohjelmasta avustaja Juha Mustonen, puh. 09 1605 6170, [email protected]