Opinion

Happy Independence Day, Finland!

On December 6, Finland celebrates 99^th anniversary of its independence. While wishing friendly Finnish people happiness and prosperity, I want to remind you that the history of relations between Ukraine and Finland also have a long history.

The history of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Finland dates back to 1918. Finland recognized recognize Ukraine among the first in 1918 and opened its diplomatic mission in Kiev. Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki was among the first 6 embassies established in Helsinki after Finland became independent. Konstiantyn Lossky was the first Ukrainian ambassador appointed and Herman Gummerus was the first Ambassador of Finland. After completion of his mission in 1919, Ambassador Gummerus wrote a book of memoirs "Ukraine at crucial times." "We Finns will enjoy success of independence aspirations of the Ukrainian people, which is so much in the interests of our country. When, one day, the time comes for Ukraine’s freedom ..., then it will be clear that the desire to establish friendly relations between Finland and the country of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Mazepa and Shevchenko was not in vain "- Ambassador Gummerus wrote at that time…

Finland recognized independence of Ukraine on December 30, 1991, and on February 26, 1992, diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored. Since April 1992, Embassy of Finland operates in Ukraine, and since December of that year - Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of Finland.

Currently, bilateral relations between our countries are developing with the new impetus. Over the past two years, the two Presidents have had 8 meetings and numerous telephone conversations. In 2015, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament visited Finland. Foreign ministers have also exchanged visits.

Finland supports Ukraine both at the political and humanitarian levels. For example, Finland is the third contributor to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission; this year, in the village of Antonivka of Herson Region, Finns built a new modern school for Ukrainian kids.

The latest statistics give the reason for optimism too. In first nine month of 2016, the bilateral trade turnover between Ukraine and Finland amounted to $236.8 million or 5.3% more than in the previous period last year.

As of 01.10.2016, the volume of the Finnish direct investments in the real sector of the Ukrainian economy amounted to $112.1 million. Finnish investments are directed at as areas as wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, industry, administrative services, professional, scientific and technical services, information and telecommunications.

Currently, more than 40 companies with Finnish investments operate in Ukraine.

Perspective areas of cooperation are education, fighting corruption, energy efficiency and energy saving, where Finland rents traditionally 1^st in the world.

To my strong belief, Finnish businesses might be interested in Ukraine as a huge market of 45 million people, a country with a great human potential and vast fertile soil.

But the most important is an increase in people-to-people contacts. We are becoming closer to each other figuratively thanks to 12 regular flights a week between Helsinki and Kyiv but also literally – good examples for that are concerts of a popular Ukrainian band "Okean Elzy" in Helsinki and of a Finnish alternative rock band Poets of the Fall in Kyiv in 2016, visited by thousands of fans…

Happy Independence Day, Finland!

Andrii Olefirov
Ambassador of Ukraine

Article in Ukrainian: https://beztabu.net/z-dnem-nezalezhnosti-finlyandiye-kolonka-posla-andriya-olefirova_n10762.