Finland's participation in UN operations

Government Information Unit 6 February 2004

On Friday, 6 February 2004, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, UNMEE, and in the KFOR operation in Kosovo.

In June 2003, Finland dispatched a staff and a guard company to join UNMEE for 12 months. The situation in the Eritrean and Ethiopian region remains strained. Attempts to accomplish the demarcation of the border, that were agreed upon in the peace treaty signed in 2000, have failed. The UN has requested that Finland continue its participation in the aforementioned peacekeeping operations. Due to the overall situation in the Horn of African and in Ethiopia and Eritrea, participation in the UNMEE operation will be appropriate until the end of 2004.

Since 1999, Finland has contributed a battalion to the KFOR operation. The situation in Kosovo is relatively stable although the issue of its future status remains unresolved. NATO has reduced the strength of the KFOR troops and the intention is to reform the structure of the remaining troops. Correspondingly, Finland will gradually reduce its involvement in a manner that by the end of 2004 the total strength of the Finnish troops in Kosovo will not exceed 550 persons.

Further information: Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480.