Finland stated its concern over the Mideast situation to the Israeli Ambassador

Director General Markus Lyra of the political department of the Finnish Foreign Ministry stated Finland’s concern over the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East in his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador Miryam Shomrat today, on 12 April. Lyra urged Israel to yield to the demands of the international community and withdraw troops from the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israeli armed forces have repeatedly violated humanitarian law and UN Security Council resolutions. Access to the occupied West Bank territories must be guaranteed for the employees of the international aid organisations and diplomatic representatives. Full freedom of movement must be reinstated for the President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, whom Finland urges to act decisively in order to prevent suicide attacks and other terrorist activities.

Lyra asked for details on the damage sustained by the Lutheran cultural centre, Dar el Kalima, being built in Bethlehem with Finnish development aid funds. Israeli troops have also invaded the education ministry of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and confiscated, among others, computers, computer files and other material concerning Finnish development projects. Finland demands their return. Eventual claims will be specified later if so called for by the magnitude of damage.

More information: Counsellor Hans Ottelin, Unit for the Middle East and North Africa, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel: +358 9 1341 5406 or w.e.f. 15 April: +358 9 1605 5406