In his speech, Niinistö described Finland as an active and responsible UN member, as well as a peacekeeping force since the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis.

"Finland would approach issues on the Council´s agenda as an engaged member state. We would be ready to look for constructive and even-handed solutions to common problems. We believe that as a small and militarily non-allied member state we have got what it takes", Niinistö asserted.

The President said that reducing poverty was the key to securing peace in many parts of the world, and that Finland had a strong record in supporting developing countries.

Niinistö also repeated Finland’s offer to host a conference aimed at establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.