ISSUE 34 (66) • 5 – 11 SEPTEMBER 2008 • €3 • WWW.HELSINKITIMES.FI DOMESTIC BUSINESS TRAVEL EAT&DRINK Number of Government Turku: Mushrooms – smokers promotes The mother of a seasonal decreased entrepreneurs Finnish towns delicacy page 3 page 10 page 12 page 16 LEHTIKUVA / MARJA AIRIO Urpilainen wants a halt on the NATO discussion PEKKA POHJOLAINEN – STT Urpilainen listed Russia, infl u- MICHAEL NAGLER – HT ence in the EU and strengthening policy with regards to the Baltic ACCORDING to Social Democratic Sea region as current challenges for Chairwoman Jutta Urpilainen there Finland’s foreign and security poli- is no need to redefi ne Finland’s rela- cy. According to the SDP leader, Fin- tionship with NATO for the duration land needs an ever deeper analysis of the current parliamentary term. of Russia’s politics, economy, pub- She said that Finland does not lic opinion and military capabilities. need to re-examine its stance on According to Urpilainen, Finland NATO. Decisions on security mat- as a nation needs to strengthen its ters should always be taken in a way ability to make a stand on interna- that takes the view of the majority tional questions. For this a more of the people into account. vigorous foreign and security policy She said that with the Georgian discussion is necessary. crisis, uncertainty for the future has The EU should also remain as increased both with regards to great united a player as possible with re- power relations as well as the EU. Al- gards to its relationship with Rus- though there should be boldness in sia. It is also natural to strengthen foreign policy, neither should the and enhance Nordic cooperation. In country fall into the mire of empty her opinion the Baltic region has a idealism. “For a small country to suc- huge potential as an area of EU co- ceed in the international system it is operation, as well as being a bridge required to recognise the facts.” over its borders. Almost half of Finns think that health services have gotten worse REINO PASANEN – STT The amount of staff will come to HEIDI LEHTONEN, MICHAEL NAGLER – HT increasingly affect Finnish health care. “In the health care sector per- NEARLY half of Finns think that the sonnel turnover occurs with a lag. availability of doctors and related Indeed, an essential question is how The cool summer and frosts hurt the blueberry harvest this year. services has worsened this decade. there will be enough personnel in an Equality is also lacking, instead the aging Finland,” she says. quality of medical care is depend- Perho sees the quality of health ent on how much you can pay. These care services to be directly related to Blueberry harvest poor this year results are revealed from a health the well-being of personnel responsi- care barometer published at Mikke- ble for health care. “One of the most STT In addition to weather conditions, the cool summer and frosts that li on 2 September. important questions has to do with im- HEIDI LEHTONEN, MICHAEL NAGLER –HT the growth area means much for the came during the blooming weak- The insuffi ciency of health care proving well-being at the work place in ripening of the lingonberries. For ex- ened the harvest. Also, insects personnel received the strongest the health care sector. For example the THE LINGONBERRY harvest is set ample, already now lingonberries didn’t pollinate the blueberries this criticism. Only two per cent thought technology used in health care should to be mediocre this year. The Finn- can be picked in the clear-cutting ar- year as much as was hoped. “Climate that there were enough personnel. be better utilised,” Perho says. ish Forest Research Institute (Met- eas of the southernmost part of Fin- change manifests itself in the blos- According to Maija Perho, who is Most Finns are satisfi ed with the la) said on 1 September that the land. With regards to forested pine soms blooming too early in spring, responsible for the health promo- professionalism of health care pro- lingonberries will ripen a couple heaths, however, the berries cannot which often leads to the blueberries tion policy programme of the Min- cedures and decisions as well as in of weeks later than usual due to be picked until next week. Metla re- being killed by the frost,” Salo says. istry of Social Affairs and Health, the correctness of the medication. the summer’s humid and cloudy searcher Kauko Salo thinks that the The mushroom harvest was the result is worse than previously The listing of medical alterna- weather. According to the Insti- lingonberry harvest has remained quite good this year, according to estimated. tives and doctor availability were tute, lingonberries will be availa- almost the same during the last dec- Metla. There have been plenty of In addition to wealth, Finns considered the most problematic. ble for picking at the beginning of ade. “No great differences can be chanterelles, for example. “How- think that the quality of medical Over 1,000 Finns were asked in September in southern and central seen with regards to the lingonberry ever, due to clear-cutting certain care also depends on where a per- May of their experiences of the current Finland. They will also be avail- harvest, and indeed the harvests are root mushrooms, such as milk-cap son lives and where he is treated. state of health care for the barometer. able in almost the whole of Oulu usually regular.” mushrooms and boletes, will not re- “Regional differences primarily af- TNS Gallup collected the data on behalf province. However, they cannot be The blueberry harvest was poor turn to the cutting areas until ten fect how soon you get medical care,” of the Lääketietokeskus (Medical data picked in Lapland until the end of this year. There were a promising years later,” Salo reminds. Perho says. centre) and Sitra, among other parties. September. amount of blueberry blossoms, but Read about mushrooms on page 16. 2 5 – 11 SEPTEMBER 2008 VIEWPOINT HELSINKI TIMES Ambassador Barbara McConnell Barrett Barbara Barrett was nominated on 13 March, 2008 by President George W. Bush as Ambassador of the United States to the Repub- lic of Finland. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 29th April and sworn in by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on 30 April, 2008 at Arizona State University. She arrived in Finland in May. Georgia must be whole and free THE VIOLENCE that erupt- DURING the confl ict Russian Abkhazia have had a long ceasefi re agreement: Russian the framework for resolving 17% ethnic Abkhaz, with ed last month in Georgia forces and “irregulars” com- history of tension. During forces have not withdrawn to Kosovo’s status in UN Secu- the plurality – 45% – eth- stunned much of the world. mitted wanton destruction, the past year, Moscow has their pre-August 7 positions rity Council Resolution (UN- nic Georgians. Most of those We, the United States of leaving behind huge numbers steadily intensifi ed pres- as specifi ed in the agreement, SCR) 1244. UNSCR 1244 was ethnic Georgians were driv- America, join the EU in con- of displaced persons and bro- sure on Georgia economical- and the “buffer zones” that adopted without any dissent en out of Abkhazia as inter- demning Russia’s decision to ken infrastructure. Russia’s ly, politically, and militarily, Russia is trying to create have (China abstaining) on June nally displaced persons. In recognize the independence actions in Georgia were not launching trade embargos no basis in the agreement. On 10, 1999, to address the situ- South Ossetia, the ethnic of Abkhazia and South Os- those of a well-intentioned and suspending air and August 26 Russian President ation in Kosovo that resulted Georgian population, repre- setia and in calling on oth- peacekeeper, and are not ac- ground transport links. In Medvedev announced Russian from Milosevic’s actions. El- senting approximately 35% of er states not to recognize ceptable in the 21st century. the spring, Russia issued recognition of South Ossetia ements of UNSCR 1244 in- the population, has also been these Georgian separatist Russian troops have refused a government order to in- and Abkhazia, an act that vi- clude: denying Serbia a role largely driven away from the regions. We also agree with to leave, and have dug into crease its offi cial ties with olates Georgia’s territory and in governing Kosovo; author- region and are currently in- the EU’s conclusion that Rus- positions not only in the dis- the breakaway regions of numerous multilateral resolu- izing the establishment of an ternally displaced persons sia has a choice to make in or- puted areas of South Ossetia South Ossetia and Abkhaz- tions on Georgia, including UN interim UN administration; within Georgia. After these der not to isolate itself from and Abkhazia, but also deep- ia, completely bypassing the Security Council resolutions, providing for local self-gov- forced emigrations, an elec- Europe. We agree with the er into Georgia, all in viola- Georgian authorities. which Russia has support- ernment; and envisioning a tion among those remaining EU that the six-point cease- tion of Georgia’s territorial Russia’s challenges then be- ed. Russia’s act is inconsistent UN-led political process to in Abkhazia, no matter how fi re agreement must be ful- integrity. came more ominous. A Rus- with the terms of the ceasefi re determine Kosovo’s future monitored, could not be con- ly implemented, and we echo sian fi ghter jet shot down a agreement signed less than status. UNSCR 1244 con- sidered fair or valid. the EU’s call for military forc- EU PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy Georgian drone over Geor- two weeks prior.