Finland Times

 

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä spoke at a multicultural Independence Day celebration in Helsinki on Sunday. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Sunday expressed his concerns at hard attitudes towards asylum seekers.

 

“I have been concerned about the hard stances that some Finns take towards asylum seekers,” Sipilä was quoted by the Finnish national broadcaster Yle as saying during a multi-cultural Independence Day celebration at the Helsinki City Hall.

 

He stressed that “caring others” is the hard core of the Finnish culture, which all people should defend together.

 

The prime minister called on Finns and the immigrants living in Finland to help newcomers to integrate into the Finnish society. “Tell them about the Finnish culture, guide them to recreational activities and different communities and be involved in supporting them in dealing with everyday life,” said Sipilä, adding that a lot can be achieved by sharing information and discussion.

 

He emphasised that any aggressive and criminal acts should be condemned and judged, whatever background the offenders are from.

 

Sipilä also condemned the suspected acts of crime by asylum seekers.

 

According to the premier, not any kind of tragic background can justify acts of crime in the new country of residence.