Thankful Finland vows dev’t aid for Mindanao

A thank-you letter and more aid for Mindanao.

The Finnish government virtually recanted its criticisms against the Philippines’ handling of the hostage crisis in Jolo by praising the its assistance in the release of two Finnish hostages and pledging more development aid for Mindanao.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said he received a letter from Finnish Foreign Minisher Erkki Tumioja thanking the Philippine government for its cooperation and assistance in the release of Finnish hostages from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf.

Siazon said that Tumioja had suggested that "we turn to the future and continue to work in strengthening our bilateral relations."

He added that Finland has promised to reorient its official development assistance to the Philippines towards the development of some parts of Mindanao.

It was Finnish Ambassador Raimo Anttola who called Siazon to inform of Tumioja’s letter. And Siazon expressed optimism that the Philippine’s relations with Finland, France and Germany would become stronger after the recent release of the Abu Sayyaf hostages.

"After the wound heals and becomes a scar, it becomes stronger than the normal skin," Siazon said.

Tumioja earlier made a statement that pictured the Philippines as a dangerous place which Finnish nationals should avoid.

The statement, which was released Sept. 9 or the same day the Finnish hostages were freed, was deemed ironic and inappropriate by Filipino diplomats.

French President Jacques Chirac, on the other hand, criticized the Philippine government’s decision to use force in rescuing the foreign hostages. He even threatened to impose sanctions on the Philippines if anything untoward happens to his nationals.