Crisis management in Afghanistan

Government Communications Unit
Press release 372/2009
9 December 2009

On Wednesday, 9 December, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the state of play in Afghanistan and Finland’s participation in crisis management. Next time, the development of Finland’s participation in the ISAF operation will be taken on the agenda of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy in the beginning of 2010.

Finland will initiate preparations for its accession to the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines. The plan is to accede to the Mine Ban Convention in spring 2012. Finland has played an active role in humanitarian mine action in developing countries. In 2009, Finland contributed EUR 5 million to humanitarian demining.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions. The entry into force of the Oslo Convention and its effects will be monitored in line with the Government Report on Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2009.

From the humanitarian point of view, Finland considers the Oslo Convention important and supports the objectives of the Convention and aims for its global implementation.

Further information: Afghanistan: Teemu Tanner, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5032 and Helena Partanen, Defence Counsellor, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8135, Ottawa and Oslo: Outi Holopainen, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6185 and Pentti Olin, Adviser, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8242