Following the attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, there has been a lot of support from other countries’ governments and politicians. And there were also reactions and sympathy in Finland.
President Obama was among the first ones to communicate:
“I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrorist attack and the people of France at this difficult time. France is America’s oldest ally, and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world. Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended. France, and the great city of Paris where this outrageous attack took place, offer the world a timeless example that will endure well beyond the hateful vision of these killers. We are in touch with French officials and I have directed my Administration to provide any assistance needed to help bring these terrorists to justice.” This was followed by new statements in the afternoon.
After multiple statements from the Kremlin, M. Medvedev, and the ministry of Foreign Affairs “condemning the terrorist act in Paris, expressing condolences to the next-of-kin, and indicating that the tragedy proves the need to continue active cooperation in fighting the terrorist threat“, President Putin was calling President Hollande to convey his most sincere condolencesand the people of France regarding the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine’s staff. In addition, according to the Kremlin, “President Putin condemned this act of barbarism and expressed hope that all of its perpetrators will be found and duly punished. He asked Hollande to convey the words of deepest sympathy to the families of those deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured”.
For Germany, Chancellor Merkel, in a meeting in London with Prime Minister Cameron, sent a letter of condolences and, with david Cameron, called President Hollande . She declared later “What has happened in Paris today is indeed a barbarous attack against all of the values we share. All of us that live in Europe strongly condemn these attacks and our thoughts go out to the French people and particularly to those who have lost loved one in this horrendous attack. This is an attack against the values we all hold dear, values by which we stand, values of freedom of the press, freedom in general and the dignity of man. And again our thoughts are with the French people with all of those who have lost loved one in this horrific attack and everything we can do to help the French we will certainly do“.
In addition, and I would like to mention it because it was particularly moving and showing the strong emotional links between France and Germany, Minister Steinmeier organised a minute of silence and declared: “We stand here shocked and appalled following the events in Paris yesterday. The cowardly and murderous attack on the editorial staff of “Charlie Hebdo” is an act of boundless barbarity. We mourn those who were killed. Our sympathy goes out to their families. Our hearts and minds are with them. We grieve with France and the French people and, at the same time, we know that the terrorist attack in Paris was a brutal assault on our democratic values. It was an attack on freedom and democracy in the heart of the country which has traditionally been regarded as having achieved freedom and democracy for Europe. We will do everything in our power to withstand this attack on freedom and democracy together. I assured Laurent Fabius of this yesterday afternoon[…] At this difficult time, we stand side by side. As friends of France and as friends of freedom we say: we are Charlie Hebdo Nous sommes Charlie Hebdo.”
All other countries have made declarations and sent messages of support, in particular China, Australia, Norway, Lebanon, India, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, etc. Some of the interventions are politically significant: Mahmoud Abbas, for the Palestinian Authority sent a telegram qualifying the attack as a “heinous crime[…] condemned by morality and religion”. “The president expressed to the French President and the French people, friends of Palestine, and the families of the victims, our condolences, begging mercy for the souls of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured, and patience and courage to their families“. In Egypt and Saudi Arabia, similar messages were sent, with in particular a Saudi official qualifying the attack as a “cowardly terrorist act which Islam as well as other religions reject“.
In Finland Prime Minister Stubb published the following message: “Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has expressed his condolences on behalf of the Finnish Government following the attack at the Charlie Hebdo magazine’s office in France. Prime Minister Stubb offered his condolences also to the French President, François Hollande. Finland strongly condemns all acts of terror“. The Prime Minister added that “Freedom of expression and a free press are integral elements of European values“.
President Ninistö published the following statement on the Presidency’s website: ” President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö sent a message of condolence to François Hollande, President of France, on the attack on the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday 7 January 2014. President Niinistö expressed his condolences on his own behalf and on the behalf of the people of Finland to the family and friends of the victims and to the people of France. “Finland condemns terrorism in the strongest terms. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are fundamental European values,” said the President in his message“.
Later, around 6 pm, there was another demonstration in the Centre of Helsinki, with around 150 persons walking peacefully from Mannerheimintie to Senate Square to support Charlie Hebdo and tell about their sorrow for this dreadful event.Categories: International
Finland Politics 
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