THE newly appointed Finland ambassador to Solomon Islands Lars Backstrom says he will do his best to promote relations between both nations.
Mr Backstrom was speaking at the Government House in Honiara when presenting his credentials before the Acting Governor General Jasper Nasiu on Thursday.
“As Ambassador of Finland to the Solomon Islands I will do my very best to promote relations between our two nations,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said, he is pleased to say that his (Finland) Government and the Finnish Meteorological Institute have been much involved for a number of years with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) in helping Solomon Islands and other South Pacific nations improve meteorological services and livelihoods of their communities.
“The project is known as Finpac.”
He also revealed that there will be a meeting here in Honiara in August to take stock of the project____s achievements.
“Being an islander myself, I very much look forward to working with you and your administration in furthering the relations between Finland and the Solomon Islands,” he said.
He further said that it is now 25 years since his first visit to the country.
“I remember visiting famous World War II battlegrounds outside Honiara on Guadalcanal.
“The battles fought here were some of the most intense in the Pacific theatre and it was the first major offensive by Allied forces against the Japanese empire.
“In August this year you will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal.
“This will give pause to remember all those fallen here and in many other wars.
“Finland has also had its share of wars: The war of independence in 1918, which was also a civil war, the winter war in 1939-1940, the continuation war from 1941-1944 and the war in Lapland 1944-1945.
“As we are celebrating Finland____s 100 year of independence this year, it will also give us pause to remember all of our citizens who sacrificed their lives for our independence,” Mr Backstrom said.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
