Finland preparing to send peacekeeping forces to Lebanon
Finland is making provision for sending a reinforced company, meaning at most 200-250 troops, to take part in the crisis management operation in Lebanon. The operation, to be implemented under a UN Security Council mandate, is however only in the stages of preparation. A separate decision on participation will be taken later, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said after the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, together with the President of the Republic, had discussed the situation in the Middle East and the possibility of sending Finnish peacekeepers to the region.
Tuomioja hopes that more information about the remaining unsettled issues, which pertain especially to the strength of peacekeeping forces, their operational authority and the number of countries sending troops, will become available during the coming week. The option of not taking part in the operation, too, is still open. Most important of all, however, is that preparations are already underway. In addition, at the request of the European Union, Finland is making provision to take part in combating oil spills in coastal areas of Lebanon.
Because the crisis management operation is mandated by the UN, Finland expects a strong contribution from other Member States. The stand taken by France, in particular, will also have an effect on Finland’s decision, since France is expected to take a leading role in Lebanon. If France decides not to participate, the entire operation has to be reconsidered, Foreign Minister Tuomioja concluded.
There are no plans to send joint EU troops to the region; instead each country will take its own decision on participation. According to the Foreign Minister, EU cooperation and a certain amount of coordination are necessary, however, because as far as numbers are concerned, the EU will probably account for the greatest input. Tuomioja hopes for cooperation among the Nordic countries, in particular, as that would bring special added value to the operation. Finland’s participation is not dependent on this, however; the overall situation will be the determining factor.
Tuomioja also emphasised the role of other Middle Eastern countries in the Lebanese situation. “Lasting stability, permanent peace in the area requires, firstly, that all parties, including external bodies, respect and support stability and peace and, secondly, that progress is also made with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.”
The final decision concerning Finland's participation will be made by the Finnish Parliament. Next week the matter will be discussed in the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, the intention being to present the Government's report to the entire Finnish Parliament on 5 September. In Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen’s assessment, it would take about two months to get Finnish troops to the region. The UN hopes that all peacekeepers would be in place by the beginning of November.
