LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Tarja Halonen: Eu Presidency
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Beyond her huge popular appeal, Halonen earned the respect of colleagues and peers both at home and abroad. By 2004, she had accumulated no fewer than nine honorary degrees from universities ranging from the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Beijing (2002) to Ewha Women's University in the Republic of Korea (2002) to the University of Bluefields in Nicaragua (2004). She had ... garnered such accolades as the Ceres Medal from the United Nations organization for agriculture and food, FAO, (2002) and the 2004 Grameen Foundation USA - Deutsche Bank Humanitarian Award for her "global vision and humanitarian perspective." Kerevan rightly described Halonen as a woman not to be underestimated: "Don't be fooled - the president of Finland is no conformist figurehead. In a nation of blondes, she is a fiery redhead." Halonen was also sensitive to her presidency being an inspiration to Finnish women.
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Expressing concern over violation of human rights through gender and religious discrimination, Ms. Halonen said terrorism and armed conflicts were affecting today's world. In her December 31, 2006 speech while laying down EU Presidency, she had said that Finland must reconsider its immigration policy. "Though Finland has a very small percentage of immigrants, they cannot be seen only as a labour force. They are human beings as well and immigrants can be made a positive factor."
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Halonen said that the subject of returning Karelia to Finland was much more popular at the start of her presidency seven years ago. Still, she said there were never any serious talks about regaining the region.
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