In his speech, the President of Finland emphasized that Italy and Finland must cooperate closely in the future as well.
Republic president Sauli Niinistö and his spouse Dr Jenni Haukio are currently visiting Italy. They attended on Monday evening the President of Italy Sergio Mattarelle for the gala dinner hosted by Niinistö, where he gave a short speech.
In his speech, Niinistö emphasized the long-standing cooperation between Italians and Finns. He raised the example of a composer by Jean Sibeliuswho drew inspiration for his work from the Italian landscape.
“Finnish culture contains a real dose of Italy. My wife and I have also experienced that,” Niinistö stated in a speech, which the Office of the President of the Republic has published in Finnish.
Niinistö regretted that the presidential couple did not have time to stay and enjoy Italy for a longer time. The two-day state visit began on Monday in Rome and continues on Tuesday in Naples.
Niinistö pointed out that Italians and Finns have learned a lot from each other over the years. He used an Italian explorer as his example Giuseppe Acerbiawho traveled to Finland at the end of the 18th century and marveled at the Finnish sauna culture, among other things.
“Today in Italy we take saunas and in Finland we eat pasta,” Niinistö said.
Niinistö addressed the rest of his speech to Italian President Matterelle, whom he familiarly called “his good friend Sergio”.
“We have been able to serve our homelands in the midst of major changes in Europe and the world. Today it is even more important than yesterday to act together and support each other in the face of the dangers threatening Europe,” Niinistö said.
He pointed out that in addition to wars, the changing natural environment also threatens the future of Europe.
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