Finland will participate in the investigating of mass graves in Iraq

Press release 154/2003 2 July, 2003

On 1 July, the United States enquired whether Finland would be in position to participate in discovering and investigating mass graves in Iraq. The Finnish Government has answered the request in the affirmative and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has started to prepare the gathering of a group of experts to be sent to Iraq. The group will travel to the region in August, at the earliest, to assess the working conditions and to evaluate the needs and costs of the operation. The effective research will be started later this autumn. Finnish forensic odontologist Helena Ranta will be leading the group. Sweden is also considering a possibility of sending a similar group to Iraq.

Further information: Aapo Pölhö, Deputy Director General, Political Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358-9-1605 6195 and Anu Laamanen Ryter, Head of Unit, Unit for the OSCE, the Council of Europe and Civil Crisis Management, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358-9-1605 5357.