Esko Hamilo, undersecretary of state of Finland, was commenting on peaceful uses of atomic energy during a one-on-one talk. He said the news was very interesting, because Finland is one of the countries in the world that has been building nuclear energy. “We have also chosen for nuclear energy, so it is quite interesting that Saudi Arabia is considering it as well.”
He said that Finland had no doubt about the Saudi project being peaceful, and he offered his country’s service in this.
“It has not come to our mind,” he said while referring to some possible negative reactions around the world on Saudi Arabia’s energy plan.
Talking about how his country could contribute, he said, “We could be a subcontractor, particularly in security installation, which we have actually done for our power station built earlier. We have the best in the world in this concern.”
He added that the power station they were currently building, which was almost finished, could resist a direct hit from a plane. As such, he said, their power station was secured from any terrorist attack, as it is an airplane-resistant station. “So, this is what we can offer to Saudi Arabia.”
Hamilo said that Finland did not have the technology, as there are only a few countries in the world that do. “Our power stations are built by French,” he said, while stressing there were two more nuclear power stations underway.
Answering a question on the agenda of his visit, he said, “I am representing the Finnish government, as I am the foreign affair undersecretary for external economic affairs. My role is to open doors for companies, and the companies themselves will do the business.”
Saudi Arabia in one of the countries that experience good growth, in contrast to European countries, according to Hamilo. “Our main exports are sent to Europe, but as Europe is currently in recession, we have to find new partners and a new market, and Saudi Arabia is obviously one of them.”
The official said his two-day visit to Jeddah and Riyadh was not a traditional one. “This is actually a very focused delegation to visit companies that work in mining and the mining industry here in Saudi Arabia.” He continued, “We discussed various business opportunities and cooperation, such as with Ma’den Company in Jeddah and Sabik in Riyadh.”
Hamilo added he had also had a meeting with the deputy minister of petroleum and mineral resources, and he met officials at the ministerial levels during this visit.
Talking on cultural and educational activities, he said they had been doing that already. “Trade and economic relations are at the core of Saudi-Finnish bilateral relations. The cultural relations are also important, and we are very active in the field of education,” he commented, adding the cooperation with Saudi universities was “promising. We are trying to proceed on all fronts, not only on trade.”
Talking on security in his country, the visiting official said they were part of Europe and the Eurozone.
In terms of political issues, especially what is going on now in the Middle East, the official said that Finland was not so much involved, as the European Union had taken over part of the political efforts, such as the Iran issue. The European Union is in a group of countries negotiating Iran’s nuclear program, he said.
However, he added that Finland as a country did not necessarily relate with the European Union in its political stands on such issues. “Finland is trying to make a nuclear-free zone in the Middle and Near East.” He said the Finnish, rather than interfering in this part of the world, were trying to help.
Talking about the role of his embassy in Riyadh in cementing bilateral relations, Hamilo thought the embassy was doing a very good job, considering the size of their embassy and country.
As part of the Finnish Embassy’s mission here, Finland’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Jarno Syrjälä hosted at his residence in Riyadh recently the opening event for the exhibition of the paintings of Princess Ghada bint Musaed, the Saudi plastic artist and writer dubbed “The Truth.”
The exhibition was attended by Saudi personalities and a number of diplomats, besides media representatives.
According to the organizer, the event was part of the Finnish Embassy’s diplomatic initiative to support the innovative spirit of young Saudis that would cement the cultural and educational rapport between the two countries through arts. In the exhibition, Princess Ghada sought to shed light on the beauty of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and creative spirit.
