14/10 '03 TH 12:26 FAX 358 0 608713

EVA

The Central- and East-European countries which now are joining the Union represent a different view of what security and defence mean. They have not forgotten what they had to suffer under Soviet domination. They don't trust West European countries - they rely on protection from the United States. That is why they have been so keen to join NATO.

Finland, too, is influenced by geography and history, but in a more ambiguous way. As you know, Finland was attacked by the Soviet army and we lost one tenth of our territory, but we succeeded in stopping the invasion and maintaining our independence. In the end, that is in the 1980s we started to call the Soviet Union "a good neighbour" - I am using quotation marks around this phrase. Yet, the primary function of our defence force is the protection of our own territory, and each year about 80 per cent of our young men complete their military service. History tells us that Russia may change, and the Russians themselves believe, or hope, that their country will rise from its present decline. Significantly, a recent opinion poll revealed that a substantial majority of Russians consider Peter the Great as the best leader Russia ever has had.

But history also tells us that the influence of the United States could extend to this part of Europe. When in 1947 the Yugoslav dictator Tito asked Stalin why Finland had been left in peace, Stalin replied: We took into account the Americans...

We no longer live in the world in which each nation was left on its own. I believe the three countries represented here today have a common interest with regard to the security of this part of Europe. We face a number of important questions. How will the enlarged EU function in the future? What should be done to maintain transatlantic relations? How do we assess the future of Russia? I am sure we will hear interesting replies to these questions.

10/14/2003 TUE 07:52 [TX/RX NO 8472]

005

DEC 17 2003

BONNIE MCELVEEN-HUNTER

AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Helsinki, Finland

November 28, 2003

Dear Mr. President,

For two years, I have had the privilege of serving you and the people
of America as our Ambassador to the Republic of Finland. It is with great
gratitude for the opportunity to serve my nation and you, Mr. President,
that I now ask you to accept my resignation "at your pleasure." I will
return to my home in North Carolina, where I will continue to be of service
in private life.

In February 2001, when you asked me in the Capital Room at the White
House, "Will you serve your country?" I replied, "if I can do heavy lifting
and make a difference." I hope you will judge that, along with my
colleagues at Embassy Helsinki, we have succeeded.

The two years following the terrorist attacks on our country have required
much of us all. They have posed great challenges, and great opportunities,
in relations between the United States and Finland. Immediately after 9/11,
President Halonen and then-Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen assured me
that Finland stood "shoulder to shoulder" with us against terrorism. That
commitment has been seen time and time again in Finland's readiness to
contribute peacekeeping troops to Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Africa; its
full participation in security, commercial and environmental partnerships
through the Northern European Initiative and now in the Enhanced
Partnership in Northern Europe; and in Finland's pledge to the future of
Iraq at last month's Madrid Conference.

In the context of "traditional" diplomacy, during my two-year tenure, we
have proudly welcomed to Finland distinguished Americans including your

The President
The White House,
Washington, D.C.

father, former President George H. W. Bush, and Dr. Henry Kissinger, brilliant ambassadors of mutual understanding on critical foreign policy issues. We have attempted to bridge the Transatlantic divide while adjusting to our post 9-11 reality. In this regard, we have worked closely with Finland in such areas as the Container Security Initiative, terrorist financing, Passenger Name Record and biometric data sharing, and airline/airport security to promote shared goals and to develop equally high standards of safety in spite of the difficulties imposed by oftentimes differing EU policies.

We have promoted commercial ties through the reinstatement of a Senior Commercial Officer at the Embassy and have advocated tirelessly for U.S. companies in major investment projects. We have intervened with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on policy issues that are of importance to U.S. pharmaceutical companies, such as reimbursement application procedures and access delays, helping to change current regulations in Finland that make it difficult for U.S. companies to recover R&D expenses.

We have gained good will and enhanced regional environmental protection as we have expressed our concern for maritime safety in the Gulf of Finland and encouraged the development of a Maritime Traffic Control System. We addressed Finnish concerns about the environmental impact of the new Russian oil terminal in Vysotsk. Working closely with OPIC, we helped open a dialogue between Russian and Finnish environmental experts where fears about tanker traffic and potential oil spills could be properly addressed.

While Finland has experienced a change of government during my tenure, there has been no change in the warm and close relations we enjoy with the Finnish leadership. Over the past few months, in addition to developing a close personal relationship with Prime Minister Vanhanen and his family, I have met with every new minister in his Cabinet to emphasize the importance of our bilateral ties and to explore ways to enhance our partnership on key issues. On all my extensive travels to 15 cities throughout this beautiful country of Finland, I have found, despite the famous Finnish reserve(Finns can be "silent in many languages"!), an outpouring of friendship and good will toward America.

Because I am a business owner and an entrepreneur who is focused on results, I proudly led the Embassy Helsinki team in several special initiatives that fall into the category of "non-traditional" diplomacy.

I believe that business, trade and commerce are not only about economic efficiency, but also about knitting our nation's ideals, ideas and common values together. The Helsinki Women Business Leaders Summit, in the fall of 2002, was an opportunity to put this belief into action. It brought together American, Finnish, Russian, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian entrepreneurs to share business strategies, ideas for accessing capital, and secrets for success – with the goal of strengthening civil society by utilizing 100% of these nations' resources, both men and women. The Summit created media interest valued at over one million dollars for this U.S. government initiative, including coverage on CNN, BBC, NPR and CNBC, as well as in 22 publications. It generated millions more in increased revenues for the companies who participated, creating over $10,000,000 in documentable new business for America. Based on the success of the business model, there are plans to hold similar Summits in Latvia, the Middle East and China in the coming years.

Another regional outreach, the conference "Stop Child Trafficking: End Modern-Day Slavery" in June 2003 united NGOs, government agencies, and media in a region-wide effort to target trafficking in minors. It resulted in government legislation in Latvia and a resolution by the Council of Baltic Sea States to appoint a special working group on regional solutions, The event stimulated a huge increase in public awareness in Finland, which has prompted the government to accelerate its plans for tougher new legislation and a national action plan against this scourge. The trafficking conference was the genesis for a 30-minute CNN International documentary on "Insight" by Jill Dougherty and Jonathan Mann that highlighted the Helsinki conference, including interviews with me and Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky and remarks by Secretary Powell that highlighted the U.S. government's leadership on this issue.

Finally, to "put a face on America," I invited Finnish business leaders to join our "Child of Karelia" project, which helps Finnish and Russian charities assist abandoned children and other children at risk for drugs, crime, HIV/AIDS and trafficking in the transborder region of Karelia. This three-year outreach program will be totally funded by individual contributions, with no government, corporate, or foundation funds involved. The goal of 500,000 Euros, which was exceeded (590,000 Euros was pledged), is the largest amount ever raised by private charity in Finland. Finnish President Tarja Halonen has stated that she cannot believe that it is possible, while former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen told me that this private philanthropy venture may lead to public EU and Northern Dimension funding for the continued outreach to the children of Karelia after the 3 year program has been completed. I have been personally

3

touched and inspired by the enthusiasm of the Finns who have joined in
this (ground-breaking) initiative of giving back, acknowledging that
government cannot do everything to ensure the future for these children
and understanding the importance – and satisfaction -- of individuals'
volunteering to make a difference.

After 9/11, Mr. President, you called on all Americans to "serve goals
larger than self." On behalf of the" Three Ambassadors", my Mother,
husband and I, who live at the U.S. Embassy Helsinki Residence, it has
been an honor and privilege to serve you and my country as a "citizen"
ambassador. I am leaving Finland having had the opportunity to serve with
dignity of purpose, with intellectual and creative stimulation, and with
colleagues and cherished friends for life. As I now return to America, I
pledge to you my continued enthusiastic support and unswerving
commitment.

May God bless Finland and may God bless America!

With admiration,

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

4