On the eve of Finnish National Day: December 6, 2001
WHAT IS NOT CHANGING IN FINLAND
In the fever of change we easily forget what is not changing and that is just
constancy which defines the direction of change.
Independent Finland is a special case in the European union. We have no long
histyory, no medieval cities and no lost ages of greatness. Our national identity was
created quickly and was centrally planned at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the
1900s when we were first an autonomous pat of Russia, and from 1917, an independent
nation. The process led to an exceptionally homogenous national culture, which embraced
politics, too.
Groups, mass movements, political conformity at the national level and
collectivism became the basic values of Finnish democracy, originating even before
independence and the civil war of 1918. After the national strike of 1905, the Russian
czar proclaimed the so-called November Manifesto which put an end to politically
privileged classes in Finland, established universal suffrage- for women, too- and
guaranteed freedom of speech and the right to congregate. A democratic civil society was
born as if by magic, even though, until independence in 1917m, it was a kind simulation,
since the final analysis the Russian Czar enacted laws.
At that time, however, the Finnish model of a democratic civil society, its
ideals and courses of action was created. The first generation of citizens aware of their
rights grew in popular movements that created an ever-domination concept of citizenship.
It functioned not so much by as of the free individual but through his or her own tie to
the collective good. Equality has been achieved by conformity and it has required groups
cherishing consensus. Strong collectivism has made united social construction work
possible as well as an heroic fight in the Winter War against the overwhelming enemy, the
Soviet Union, in 1939-40, as well as political consensus, through which Finland has become
one of the worlds most developed and modern welfare states. At the same time, however, a
very strong fear of non-conformity has grown in the country.
A structural feature has been the result of this tradition. Nothing changes
the fact that equality among the people is always placed above cultural hierarchies. We
want to avoid the appearance of too strong social differences, neither can a recognizable
hierarchy producing classifications of taste be found in our culture. It is in fact a
fortunate situation that in Finland, very different matters and people can face each other
at the same level, democratically respecting each other and avoiding open conflict. In
this the reserved nature and remote politeness of Finns are of us. Perhaps this is also
applicable to objects and styles.
There is another matter in which changes do not come easily in this country.
Here, Christianity has never become thoroughly spiritual but has remained a superficial
surface through which a more original ecological mentality, ever more often drizzles like
an unused natural source. In Finland nature has preserve its position as a high authority
and a source of spiritual creation. Finns are pantheists, they find their god in buzzing
forests, stormy lakes and the formation of clouds in the sky. In Finland the eternal
dimension exists and remains in living nature whose value we can never exaggerate.
Text courtesy: Finland, The Northern experience, New Europe and the next
Millennium, Tammi publishers, Helsinki. Finland Embassy Kathmandu: Chief editor
Program outlined by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for the
first 100 days
(Excerpts only)
Dear brothers and sisters,
Now I shall give you some good news.
We have finalized our new government's 100 days
program. I hope all members of my cabinet would prove their honesty, efficiency and
dynamism. Ministership is no longer an automatic job for five years. Changes in the
cabinets of democratic countries of the West take place, it will similarly take place in
our cabinet.
We have prepared a program for one hundred days so
that the members of the cabinet remain dynamic from the very beginning. Following are the
highlights of the program:
*Observing a day to thank the voters for the
victory of the four party alliance.
*Recovering illegal arms, arresting identified
terrorists and starting the process of their trial.
*Organizing an anti-terrorism national convention
in Dhaka by assembling the relatives and well wishers of those who were killed in various
incidents like political and criminal acts across the county during the last five years.
*Opening all educational institutions and stopping
all kinds of terrorist acts there.
*Starting the process of repealing the Public
Safety Act (PSA) and Special Powers Act (SPA).
*Starting legal process for releasing the persons
who are in prison without trial and the political prisoners.
*Repealing all previous unfair administrative
orders.
*Taking initiative to remove indiscipline and
irregularities at Chittagong Port, Mongla Port and the Airport.
*Unveiling the real causes of share market scam of
1996 and identifying the persons responsible for it. Re-establishing confidence of both
local and foreign investors in the share market.
*Starting the process of judicial inquiry into the
much discussed bomb explosions.
*Formation of Citizens Law and Order Committees
comprising renowned local persons in cities, towns and villages.
*Starting an inquiry into all allegations of
corruption, identifying corrupt persons and the process of their trial.
*Celebration of 30th anniversary of Victory in the
Liberation War on 16 December 2001.
Formation of organizing committees to observe the
50th anniversary of the Language Movement on 21 February 2002.
*Sending special request teams abroad aiming to
increase the garments quota.
*Sending special teams abroad to increase manpower
export.
We will organize some International seminars
without pomp, which are essential for the country, but without the expense and luxury of
the International conference-NAM. Youths will be encouraged in computer training, learning
foreign languages and motor driving to create new employment opportunities. Following are
the highlights of the plan:
*An international seminar on arsenic problem will
be organized.
*An International seminar to motivate the youths to
learn computer will be held.
*Steps will be taken to set up cyber clubs in the
main district towns with a view to building computer networking.
*Work to set up language laboratory in six
divisional towns will start. Courses related to jobs in Chinese, Japanese, French, Arabic,
German and English languages will be launched. These courses will help create job
opportunities abroad.
*Fresh initiatives will be taken in all government
educational institutions to start the teaching of English language.
Initiative will be taken to set up government motor
driving schools in the main district towns to motivate the youths to learn motor driving.
*Special bus service for women employees will be
introduced in the capital.
*We regularly see photographs of serious accidents
in the newspapers. Steps will be taken to set up an Advanced Drivers Institute to provide
improved training to truck, lorry, coach, and bus and taxi drivers.
Steps will be taken to set up an Accident Research
Center to reduce accidents on roads and waterways to identify the causes of accidents. We
want to free the country from not only terrorism, but also from accidents.
We hope you will take part in these constructive
works. Your government will be serious about employing the unemployed youths, generation
of power and solving chronic problems like traffic jams. These issues will receive our
priority.
The Power Development Board will become bankrupt if
the purchase of electricity with unjust conditions, at a high price and involving foreign
currency continues. It will be difficult to meet the additional demand for power amid
widespread mismanagement and indiscipline and under stringent conditions of the donor
agencies.
The election of October 1 was an unprecedented vote
for revolution. But it was without bloodshed and it was peaceful. The October vote
revolution was silent and gentle.
Let all of us, the 13 crore people of Bangladesh,
make a human chain by holding hands.
Let us be united and build the nation. Because
divided we will fall but unity will bring progress. Let us face the harsh reality
unitedly.
I said earlier that the world faces a new situation
after the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York and the attack on the Pentagon in
Washington on September 11. New thinking has developed in the dollar-based global economy.
It is a matter of grave concern for Bangladesh. You are all aware that the world situation
has become more dangerous after the US action on Afghanistan since October 7.
Our export-oriented industries, including readymade
garments and frozen fish, are dependent ion the world market. The scope of jobs and
earnings of Bangladeshi people abroad also depends on stability in different countries of
the world. The participation of Bangladesh in such markets must be extended and maintained
at all costs.
Recession is also prevailing in other businesses
and industries.
So, mobility must be brought back to all businesses
and industries if we want to make the country development-oriented. New blood must be
circulated.
From this moment, I urge all businessmen and
industrialists to come forward to make their business and industries vibrant with new
initiative and courage. Inspire all to concentrate on business and small enterprises. I
promise that the government will extend its all out support.
At the same time, I'm urging the expatriate Bangladeshi brothers and sisters
to turn to us and invest some capital here. Ask foreigners to invest capital in Bangladesh
and tell them that we shall ensure a conducive environment for investment.
Text courtesy: Excerpts from the Address to the nation made in Dhaka on 19
October, 2001 by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Source Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu:
chief editor.
RAPID IMPLEMENTATION
An interview with Hans Martin Bury, since 1999 minister of state at the
federal chancellory, on the recommendations made by the government's Corporate Governance
Commission.
Herr bury, made up of a number of experts, the Corporate Governance
Commission submitted wide-ranging proposals to the federal chancellor in July on the
subject of modernizing Germany's corporate law. What are the keys points in the proposals?
Ans: As the result o some spectacular cases where companies got into real
trouble before their boards could step in, the Baum Commission has recommended improvement
in the cooperation between the executive committees, the supervisory boards, accountants,
and annual general meetings. The experts used critical developments in the financial
markets as an opportunity to elaborate plans to strengthen stockholder protection. In the
suggestion for Corporate Governance Code we see a trademark of god corporate management,
which will
improve financial conditions internationally. All of this will strengthen the
competitiveness of our businesses.
Q: Which things still need some time, and which are ready to be implemented
now?
Ans: We are about to appoint experts to draw up the
recommended code and to continue to develop it as time goes by. Furthermore, the federal
government will immediately present a plan for a transparency law, the first proposal by
the commission on stock holder protection, to implement modern information and
communications technology, deregulate stock laws, and improve the work of supervisory
boards. A wide-ranging reform of the stock law ought to be based on the basic principles
contained in the recommendations.
Q: What are the most advanced challenges?
Ans: Overall, increased flexibility and internationalization
represent the most important progress. From my point of view, one of the most
forward-looking proposals came in the form of the German Business Register, a standardized
Internet portal for company information, from the federal gazette to the trade register.
This strengthens transparency and facilitates access. Another very forward looking idea is
the improvement of stockholder protection through a combination of information, liability
law, and the facilitation of actually awarding damages won in court.
Q: There is no lack of law and regulation in Germany governing companies.
Won't these further laws put an even heavier burden of regulation on business people?
Ans: On the contrary, what we're planning is a new
adjustment between state regulatory frameworks and self-regulatory mechanisms. The
Corporate Governance Code will not be anchored in law. The only thing that will be
obligatory is for companies to declare that they adhere to the code or, if not, why not?
The basic principle here is, comply or explain. Markets, which honor the Good Governance
Code, will then make their feelings known on the subject.
Q: German company and stock law has advantages over Anglo-Saxon models. How
global will the German corporate governance system have to be?
Ans: Our system has much strength, and we will continue to
expand those. But we also want to get rid of any deficiencies. One of those is that the
German system o management and control outside of Germany is not transparent enough, and
this is where the Corporate Governance Code can be of great help. Complementary regulation
assures that in the future we will have a leading position in the competition between
corporate governance systems. All of this improves the financial conditions for German
business, strengthens its competitiveness, and makes Germany a better financial market
place.
(Text courtesy: Deutschland Nr. E4/2001 August/September. Source Embassy of
Germany in Kathmandu). |
