Finland Times

 

President Sauli Niinistö addressed the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva.

President Sauli Niinistö on Tuesday termed the ongoing refugee crisis as a serious political tension in Europe and underscored the necessity for resolving the Syria crisis.

 

Speaking at the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations, the President also vowed Finland’s support in all efforts for the implementation of the Minsk agreement to restore peace in Ukraine, said an official press release.

 

“Finland is receiving proportionally a high number of asylum seekers. Not helping is not an option for us. But we have to find more effective and sustainable ways to help those in need,” said Niinistö, adding that solving Syrian crisis as well as other crises are essential for a lasting solution.

 

According to Niinistö, resolving the Syrian conflict needs the cooperation of the countries in the region and the UN Security Council.

 

Focusing on the existing crisis in Ukraine, he noted that illegalities such as the annexation of the Crimean region by Russia cannot and must not be accepted.

 

Niinistö also emphasised Finland's strong commitment to peacekeeping activities and pointed out that his country announced that the contribution of soldiers to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, will continue until the end of 2018.

 

Finland will step up its participation in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, he said.

 

Finland also strengthens its support to training and to the implementation of the UN Security Council's Women, Peace and Security resolution.

 

Finland's current participation makes it the sixth largest European contributor to UN peacekeeping and, in per capita terms, the second largest contributor after Ireland.

 

At the end, the President expressed hope to see many qualified female candidates for the position of the next Secretary General.