Finland will participate in negotiations on cluster munitions
Government Communications Unit
Press Release 137/2007
11 May 2007
On Friday, 11 May, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s participation in international negotiations on cluster munitions.
Finland considers it important that the humanitarian problems brought about by cluster munitions be discussed at the international level.
According to the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, Finland will participate in the international negotiation process on cluster munitions which was launched in Oslo in February 2007. The aim is to reach by the end of 2008 an international legally binding treaty. Finland will attend the next meeting of the process on cluster munitions in Lima at the end of May.
Finland is of the opinion that prospects for wide acceptance of a limitation treaty are good among the countries producing and using cluster munitions. Finland does not, however, consider a total ban on cluster munitions as the right solution to the humanitarian harm caused by certain cluster munitions.
The meeting also discussed Finland's participation in international crisis management. Finland will continue its participation in 11 military and 13 civilian crisis management operations in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. The aim is to extend the scope of peace keeping activities and explore possibilities to broaden participation to include, e.g., training tasks Afghanistan.
The meeting adopted a decision whereby the preparation of a national action plan relating to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security will begin under the auspices of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The legally binding UN Resolution 1325 contains concrete requirements to respect women’s and girls’ human and fundamental rights in conflict situations. The UN has developed an Action Plan for the whole UN system on the promotion of the resolution. All UN members have an obligation to report on the implementation of the resolution.
The meeting also discussed Nordic security policy cooperation. In addition, the meeting received a report on the situation in Russia.
Further information: Cluster munitions: Laura Kansikas-Debraise, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 56185 and Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 160 8154; Operations: Kimmo Lähdevirta, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480, Anu Laamanen, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5357 and Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8154; Women, peace and security: Satu Lassila, Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6105