Patron of ICET 98

I have great pleasure in warmly welcoming all of you who are participating in the Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency Telecommunications to Tampere. For some of you this city will be a familiar venue because the first conference took place here in 1991. Thus the wheel has turned full circle in seven years.

I am delighted that Finland has had the opportunity to contribute to this humanitarian project, in which we have actively participated since its launch. The theme of this conference is obviously of the highest importance for all of you who are working in partnership to provide humanitarian assistance. Finland’s engagement in relief efforts around the world, combined today with our expertise in telecommunications, has given us an understanding of how fundamentally important a functioning telecommunications system is in any emergency situation.

Past experience clearly highlights the need for global understanding and agreement to ensure that humanitarian workers can rely on an effective telecommunications system in the event of a disaster. Improved communications can save human lives by enabling humanitarian aid to reach victims faster.

I am confident that all states, organisations and companies represented here in Tampere are committed to finding the solutions necessary for an international instrument that will serve the purposes of this diplomatic conference. I do hope that the determination, skills and hard work of all parties involved in the negotiating process during the past seven years will result in the formal adoption of the Convention on the Provisions of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations.

I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the International Telecommunications Union and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their outstanding contribution to the preparations for ICET 98. I thank the City of Tampere and Tampere Hall for their help and hospitality during the conference.

My best wishes for success go to the conference.

Martti Ahtisaari
President of the Republic