André Noël Chaker

I wish to extend our warm congratulations to the people of the United States on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As a young student at Furman Unversity I remember reading the Federalist Paper and the Declaration of Independence. ”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Finland's ties to the United States reach back to its founding. Among the signers of the Declaration was John Morton, a Founding Father who is remembered for being of Finnish descent. The United States and the Federalist Papers have played an important role in laying the foundation for constitutional democracies across the world. Today as friends and allies our countries work together more closely than ever. Finland looks forward to the next 250 years of friendship and partnership.

Tonight, Suzanne and I hosted a dinner for the Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to Helsinki. During this past year, it has been a privilege to build relations between Finland and many of the countries represented here today. Visits to countries near and far have been rewarding. Each meeting, each discussion, each pull-aside has been worthwhile. Every time, understanding between one another has deepened.