SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND
MR. MARTTI AHTISAARI AT A RECEPTION HOSTED BY
MAYOR SOLEDAD BECERRIL OF SEVILLE
3 FEBRUARY 1999

I thank you most heartily for the splendid reception that you have given us here in this magnificent and historical Alcázar Palace.

I also express my thanks for the Golden Key of the city of Seville that has been presented to me and which I shall cherish as a memento of this visit.

It is said that one cannot know Spain without knowing Seville. When the programme for my visit to this country was being planned, I specifically requested the opportunity to come here. I am happy and grateful that my wish was fulfilled.

We have a unique programme here. In addition to this remarkable palace it includes a visit to one of the most outstanding achievements of European ecclesiastical architecture, Seville Cathedral, your famous art museum - one of the finest in Spain and indeed the whole of Europe - as well as the General Archives of the Indies, which is unique in the whole world.

We can likewise see for ourselves how Seville has preserved magnificent buildings and monuments from various periods. This has been done with great piety and combined with modern urban construction without violating the work of earlier generations. The people of the city and their leaders deserve congratulations for that.

The World Championships in Athletics will take place here next August. Sport has always had an important position in Finnish society. It used to be said that great athletes like Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen ran our unknown country onto the map of the world in the early decades of this century. We cannot boast of quite the same calibre of athletes at the moment, but I can promise you that our men and women will give a good account of themselves here. And I will not be the only Finn whose thoughts are in Seville then.

I wish you, Madame Mayor, the administration of the city of Seville and its inhabitants continuing success.