Minister Lehtomäki: Terrorism is currently the greatest security challenge

Press release 64/2004
13 March, 2004


“The Winter War ended exactly 64 years ago today. Finland’s security environment and threats to our nation have changed throughout the decades. The security threats of the Cold War era were very different compared to the present risks imposed by international terrorism on all nations in the world”, said Foreign Trade and Development Minister Paula Lehtomäki when addressing the Winter War seminar in Suomussalmi on Saturday.

To counteract the changing security threats nations need to work together on a multitude of levels, said Lehtomäki. “The best way we can defend ourselves at the moment is to prevent all kinds of crises and conflicts in advance. Extremist movements, frustration and hatred fester in weak and poor countries. International cooperation is required in order to bring all nations together to fight terrorism”, she said.

The terror attacks in Madrid demonstrated the fact that international terrorism seeks out its targets at random and has no scruples with regard to civilian victims. “Terrorism, no doubt, is our greatest security challenge at the moment. The Madrid attacks underlined the need for intensified European cooperation. It is self-evident that when one EU member is under attack, other member states will provide help in all possible forms”, said Lehtomäki.

Further information: Anna Tonttila, press attaché, tel. 040 5131 669