President Giorgio Napolitano sent the following congratulatory message to H.E. Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President-elected of Finland:

H.E. SAULI NIINISTÖ
PRESIDENT-ELECTED OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND HELSINKI  I WISH TO WARMLY CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR ELECTION AT THE HIGHEST INSTITUTIONAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND.  FINLAND AND ITALY, UNITED BY LONGSTANDING AND STRONG FRIENDSHIP TIES, OPERATE VERY CLOSELY IN ALL THE MULTILATERAL FORA TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO DEFEND INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS. THE COMMITMENT OF OUR COUNTRIES IS CRUCIAL ALSO WITHIN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, IN ORDER FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION TO GUARANTEE THE YOUNG GENERATIONS' FUTURE BY TACKLING EFFECTIVELY THE PRESENT DIFFICULT SITUATION, WHERE THE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC POLICY OF YOUR COUNTRY REPRESENTS A BENCHMARK.  I WILL BE PLEASED TO CONTINUE THE EXCELLENT AND FRIENDLY COLLABORATION CARRIED OUT WITH PRESIDENT HALONEN AND TO MEET YOU IN A FEW DAYS IN HELSINKI ON THE OCCASION OF THE MEETING OF THE "UNITED FOR EUROPE" PRESIDENTS' GROUP.  WITHIN THIS SPIRIT, I WISH TO EXPRESS YOU MY MOST SINCERE AND FERVID WISHES FOR THE CARRYING OUT OF YOUR HIGH MANDATE, TOGETHER WITH MY BEST WISHES OF WELLBEING FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE FRIENDLY FINNISH PEOPLE.       
  

                                                               GIORGIO NAPOLITANO