Securing elections in Afghanistan
Government Communications Unit
Press release 5/2009
9.1.2009
On Friday, 9 January, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in the supporting action to the ISAF mission in order to hold elections in Afghanistan in 2009. Smooth running of the Afghan presidential and provincial council elections is important for Afghanistan’s stability and the advancement of democratic development in the country. The Afghan security authorities bear primary responsibility for the security arrangements for the elections, but in this task they need support from the Nato-led ISAF mission. Nato has requested countries providing troops for the ISAF mission to reinforce their presence for the duration of the elections. The schedule for using temporary troops will be specified once the Afghan administration has reached a decision on the elections day.
Finland is preparing to temporarily reinforce its participation in military crisis management in northern Afghanistan with approximately 100 troops in conjunction with the election arrangements.
The Government will, in accordance with the legislation concerning military crisis management, consult Parliament in relation to this matter by submitting a report to it in February.
Finland currently has approximately 110 troops in the ISAF mission. Of these, 80 troops and a team of four civilian experts are working in a provincial reconstruction team in the Mazar-e-Sharif region in northern Afghanistan. Besides this, Finland participates in training the Afghan Army.
In addition, the meeting received reviews on the current situation in Gaza and the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, and discussed these issues.
Further information: Afghanistan: Anu Laamanen, Deputy Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5519 and Pauli Järvenpää, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8140; Situation in Gaza: Helena Tuuri, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6538; Gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine: Nina Vaskunlahti, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5038