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> From: "Owens, Missy" <Missy.Owens@hq.doe.gov>
> Date: March 8, 2011 7:11:11 AM EST
> To: "'missy.owens@gmail.com'" <missy.owens@gmail.com>
> Subject: Fw: VPOTUS final Helsinki pool report
>

>
> From: White House Press Office <noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov>
> To: Owens, Missy
> Sent: Tue Mar 08 06:23:38 2011
> Subject: Fw: VPOTUS final Helsinki pool report
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Weisman, Jonathan <Jonathan.Weisman@wsj.com>
> To: Alexander, Elizabeth; Dudley, Amy; Allen, Elizabeth M.
> Sent: Tue Mar 08 06:19:14 2011
> Subject: VPOTUS final Helsinki pool report
>
> VPOTUS and Finnish President Tarja Halonen delivered statements in the Mirror Room, an ornate diplomatic reception hall in Helsinki's presidential palace graced by three crystal chandeliers, 16 crystal wall sconces, gold-inlayed molding, and swirled and painted buttresses supporting a columned balcony. Red, white and blue flowers and a US and Finnish flag served as the backdrop.
>
> The two entered laughing about their mothers, by Vpotus's rendition. POF (President of Finland) began saying it was "a very, very good day to visit Finland," the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The president, prime minister and more than half the government of Finland are women.
>
> "Of course it was too short a time," she lamented, but said "the US is an important partner for us, for Finland, for Europe, and I hope old friends have strong ties." She thanked the Obama administration for its greater emphasis on the United Nations and other multilateral organizations.
>
> She also said the two "spoke also of events in North Africa" and "signs that the international community is quite unanimous" that the "will of the people" should be respected "for the stability of the future." She offered no more detail, and VPOTUS did not respond to pooler's request for elaboration on Libya.
>
> VPOTUS followed, saying, "I'd like to take her up on her offer to spend more time with me." He talked up her "beautiful capital" with its long history in international affairs, especially the Helsinki Accords on human rights and the Soviet Union, "one of those moments when the tides of history really began to move."
>
> VPOTUS quoted POTUS saying "it is not sufficient that the US exercise its leadership role just by the example of its power but by the power of its example."
>
> He hailed POF's continued commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and Afghanistan where "we have been standing quite frankly side by side." The Finns and Swedes have forces in Mazar-e-Sharif. He said Finland has been a leader in climate change technology development and "the responsible search for new resources in the Arctic."
>
> He also spoke of his wife Jill as a "rabid hockey fan" -- especially the Flyers, and that she was thankful for the contribution of the Finnish people to the National Hockey League. He mentioned that Kimmo Timonen just scored his 100th goal in a losing Flyer effort.
>
> Perhaps sensing the disadvantage of his sex on the 100the anniversary of International Women's Day, VPOTUS talked up his authorship of the Violence Against Women Act, his work with Sen. Richard Lugar on an international version of the law, and his 12-year-old granddaughter Finnegan's exclamation last night that 40% of the Finnish Parliament is women -- "Isn't that great?" Finnegan was quoted as saying.
>
> "I just want you to know the leadership of Finland has not gone unnoticed," VPOTUS said. He then quoted a UN report saying the single most important thing that can happen in the Muslim world is the liberation of women.
>
> VPOTUS and motorcade then headed around the corner to the stately Finnish House of Estates where VPOTUS greeted Mari Kiviniemi, Finland's 42-year-old prime minister, for a working lunch. He once again spoke of Finland's female leadership, before being led into a vaulted, wood-paneled room where the US and Finnish entourages sat around a long table for lunch.
>
> Pooler is told that VPOTUS and Ms. Halonen met one-on-one following their larger delegation meeting. They discussed VPOTUS's upcoming trip to Russia, as well as environmental issues affecting the Baltic region.
>
> VPOTUS signed the presidential guest book: Madam President-
> It was an honor to be with you - particularly on International Women's Day - how appropriate.
> Joe Biden
> USA
>
>
>
>
> Jonathan Weisman
> Wall Street Journal
> -----
>
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