Mr Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Minister of the Environment and Development Co-operation
However, we in Finland have had enough temerity to actually invite Ministers of the Environment from seventeen countries along the Mediterranean Coast and from fifteen EU countries to Helsinki at the end of this November—to discuss saving the Mediterranean. This conference follows the Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in Barcelona in November 1995, which adopted a Declaration establishing a new partnership between the European Union and southern and eastern Mediterranean countries.
Besides the ministerial conference, approximately 40 NGOs from far and wide shall gather together in Helsinki to influence the Conference. In addition, the Tampere Peace Research Institute is to shelter an international scientists’ colloquium under the title Society and Environment in the Mediterranean a couple of weeks ahead of the ministerial conference.
One of the major themes in the Conference is to adopt a hot spot list similar to that in our Baltic Sea Area. This environmental priority action programme also contains a presentation of measures to combat desertification, integrated management of coastal zones and examples of regional environmental collaboration. Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region is in many ways an inspiring example in finding the best solutions for the Mediterranean environment.
The Estonian author, Jaan Kaplinski, says he has long been wondering how our ancestors - who knew so much less about the world than we do - could nevertheless live in this world in a much wiser manner without jeopardizing the world and themselves. Let us hope that - for the sake of the protection of the environment - we can also live as wisely as possible.
Pekka Haavisto
Finnish Minister of the Environment and Development Co-operation
