Conversations in Diplomacy: Tarja Halonen

In this “Conversation in Diplomacy" with former President of Finland and Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow, Tarja Halonen, the Future of Diplomacy Project Director R. Nicholas Burns explores the 'Nordic Way,' the rise of female leaders, and debates about austerity in the Eurozone.

President Halonen describes how the "5 Nordic sisters" - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland - represent vibrant models of the Nordic welfare state system, emphasizing how they are successful both in the sense of being "competitive in economics" and offering a "socially just society."

Speaking on the topic of the rise of women in Nordic countries, Halonen acknowledges the fact that the position of Nordic women has risen the most than in any other part of the world. "All Nordic countries have conserved equality between man and woman." "Smart girls will always survive," maintains Halonen

On the issue of austerity debates in the Eurozone, Halonen highlights that different European Union countries have experienced different crises: "they'e all different cases and so you can not in a way deliver the same medicine to everyone," states Halonen. Concerning Greek recovery, Halonen stresses that Greece has to be ready to "really make serious reforms in their system." "If you want to milk the cow, don't kill the animal."