Finland preparing for the crisis management operation in Lebanon

Government Communications Unit

Press release 297/2006
4.9.2006

On Monday, 4 September, the Finnish Government adopted a report on Finland’s possible participation in the UN’s UNIFIL operation in Lebanon. Finland is making preparations to deploy a reinforced engineer company and a necessary number of staff officers, a maximum of 250 soldiers, to the UNIFIL operation until the end of 2007. The company should provide the operation with clearance and reconstruction support in line with the UN’s capability requirements. 

The intention is to make a decision on Finland's possible participation at the presidential session on Friday, 8 September 2006. Provided that Finland decides to participate in the operation, the aim is to send intelligence and preparation services to the area by the beginning of October and the main part of the company by the beginning of November. 

According to preliminary estimates, the total expenditure of the deployment of the reinforced engineer company would, in 2006, be about €16.5 million and, in 2007, about €26.9 million. Later the UN would compensate about €6.7 million of Finland’s national expenses.

Finland’s preparations for the crisis management operation in Lebanon were also discussed on Monday by the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy.

Further information: Kimmo Lähdevirta, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480 and Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8154.