Finland to the UN Security Council in 2013–2014 sions the perspective of a small, capable and engaged member state. Our previous term on the Council was more than twenty years ago. Finland has the human and material capacity to serve on the Council, including diplomatic representation in all parts of the world and a proven record of contributing to UN peace efforts and operations. Since 1956, some 50 000 Finnish women and men have served in peace-keeping operations under the UN flag. In 2008, my distin- guished predecessor Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace President Sauli Prize for his long and successful career as peacemaker on behalf of Niinistö with UN the UN and the international community. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Finland´s two previous terms on the Security Council, in 1969-70 and Nuclear Security in 1989-1990, were notable for our contributions to the solution of Summit in Seoul in conflicts in Africa and the Middle East. Finland would proudly uphold Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic Finland Copyright © Office of the President March 2012. that tradition of independent judgment and evenhanded engage- ment. Finland to the UN Security Finland is convinced that the world needs a more representative Security Council, reflecting the fundamental changes in world order Council in 2013−2014 over the past six decades, and will continue to work for its realization. As a non-permanent member on the Council, Finland would promote Finland is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the United greater transparency and inclusiveness in its proceedings. Nations Security Council for the term 2013-2014. Elections will be held in October 2012. Our candidacy is fully supported by the other The purpose of this booklet is to provide information on Finland´s Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). engagement in peace, security and development across the world, often hand in hand with the United Nations. As a small member state, Finland has a vital interest in promoting a well-functioning system of collective security based on the United I believe that my country has the commitment, capacity and record to Nations Charter that guides and binds all member states, big and serve on the United Nations Security Council, contributing ably to its small alike. Under the Charter, the Security Council is responsible singularly important mission, the maintenance of international peace for the maintenance of international peace and security on behalf of and security. all member states. Finland takes seriously the grave responsibility conferred on the Council. Finland would contribute actively and in a balanced manner to the Sauli Niinistö work of the Security Council, bringing into its deliberations and deci- President of the Republic of Finland 2 Finland: candidate for the UN Security Council 2013−2014 • UN member since 1955 • UN peacekeeping and peace operations: a country that has contributed troops since 1956 • Over 50 000 peacekeepers since 1956 • Civilian crisis management: 150 experts annually Equator • Helvi Sipilä, the first woman elected Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations in 1972 • Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) Helsinki Final Act 1975 • Co-chair for the Millennium Summit, September 2000 • Founding member of the International Criminal Court Finnish Defence Forces UN Photo/ BZ Finnish soldiers on their way to Nicosia from Finnish peacekeepers in Suez-Sinai, 1957. Dhekelia, Cyprus in 1964. 3 Credible in building peace − since 1956 Finland emphasises the central role in international training of military of the United Nations in interna- and civilian personnel to be deploy- tional crisis management. Finland ed in peacekeeping operations. is committed to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Since 1956, Finland has sent more than 50 000 men and women on 30 We consider peacebuilding to be peacekeeping operations in order to a sustained effort of co-operation. promote peace and security. Finland Finland has been a pioneer in com- continues to provide the world with bining civilian and military elements peacemakers and peacekeepers we UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata in crisis management. In order to can all rely on. General Ensio Siilasvuo of Finland, Commander share our expertise, we have invested of UNEF II, mediated negotiations in the UN tent at Kilometer 101 on the Cairo-Suez road ín November 1973. Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Laureate, has dedicated his life’s work to promoting peace. Left, President Ahtisaari served as UN Commis- sioner for Namibia in 1977−1981, and was in charge of the UN operation that led to Namibian Credible independence in 1990. Right, President Ahtisaari linking the former adversaries at the signing of the ACEH Peace Treaty in Helsinki, August 2005. 4 Credible Credible Creative in sustainable development More than 1.3 million Ethiopians have access to Bilateral forestation project clean water, thanks to a water supply programme in Kenya together with local supported by Finland in the Amhara region. environmental organisations. Rauli Virtanen Finland promotes small-scale industry. Middleburg, South Africa: encouraging entre- preneurship in order to find creative solutions that reduce poverty. Finland works towards a stable and sustainable world economy by strengthening a fair and rules-based multilateral trading system. The most important objective in our in- ternational development policy is Rauli Virtanen attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals. 6 Creative We believe that economically, eco- ted to combating climate change, its logically and socially sustainable effects and other threats to the en- development is a prerequisite for vironment by means of development peace and security. We are commit- and creative solutions. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen, pictured above with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, was invited by the UN Secretary-General to co-chair the inter- national panel on global sustainability that re- leased its recommendations in early 2012. Tarja Halonen was President of Finland until 1 March 2012, and continues to be active internationally on issues related to sustainable development, climate change and women´s empowerment. Finland has funded environmental protection of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru. Mirva Viitanen Sudanese researchers in Helsinki participating in a dryland development seminar. Creative 7 The Finnish Government will ensure Creative in sustainable development that its development co-operation appropriations take Finland to- wards the level of 0.7 per cent of gross national income recom- mended by the United Nations. With regard to trading out of poverty, Fin- land emphasises aid for trade, and also stresses provision of innovative information and communications as well as environmental technology solutions to meet current global and developmental needs. Finnish development aid in Gaza is directed at humanitarian needs. Laura Junka Matti Nummelin Jussi Ojala Creative Finland supports the Biodamaz project in The use of new methods has clearly increased Peru. The project has helped to preserve the maize harvests in Quang Tri, Vietnam, where biodiversity of the Amazonas and maintain Finland has supported rural development. sustainable consumption. 8 Creative Creative Caring for human security, human rights and rule of law Finnish Red Cross Education for girls is one of Finland’s Finland: courageous in promoting worker providing top priorities in development medical aid to co-operation. Artes, West Bank. democracy, sensitive in serving the a Tsunami victim. deprived, determined to pursue Rauli Virtanen equality. Since 1991, Finnish The foundation for our work in women have helped to secure peace in the United Nations rests on operations throughout honouring our commitments, the world. putting human rights into practice, caring for the vul- nerable, promoting democ- racy through education, and Rauli Virtanen providing security through fairness and equal oppor- tunity. Finland has been on the forefront of efforts to pro- mote rule of law principles in the United Nations. Rauli Virtanen Rauli Virtanen Rauli Virtanen 10 Caring Committed to a well-functioning United Nations Finland considers the United Nations the world’s most important instru- ment of multilateral co-operation. We wish to strengthen the UN’s abil- ity to respond to global threats and challenges. Finland will continue to pursue pro- motion of the reforms agreed upon at the World Summit of 2005. By im- proving the decision-making pro- cesses and effectiveness of the United Nations, we can build a bet- ter world, thus translating the val- ues and goals enshrined in the UN Charter into action. May 2008 UN Photo/Evan Schneider Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (second from left), joined the members of the United Nations Community in leading a groundbreaking event that marked the beginning of the construction of a temporary conference venue on the North Lawn. Committed 11 Eero Kuosmanen Eero Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President Martti Ahtisaari in a conversation with the three ministers responsible for foreign affairs in the Finnish Government at the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki in August 2011. From left to right: President Ahtisaari, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala. Sworn into office in June 2011 the new Government continues Finland´s strong commitment to the United Nations, including her quest for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the term 2013-2014. http://formin.finland.fi/UNSC2013-14.