Finland’s position on the Oslo Convention
Government Communications Unit
Press Release 342/2008
31 October 2008
The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s position on the new international Convention on cluster munitions on Friday 31 October.
The decision made at the meeting was: “Finland will not sign the Oslo Convention in December 2008.
The Oslo Convention will be discussed again after an evaluation of defence capabilities has been carried out and the international development work along with the supply and cost options of cluster munitions have been analysed. The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy will follow the situation on an annual basis.
Finland considers the Oslo Convention significant from the humanitarian perspective and supports the objectives and efforts of the Oslo Convention to make the Convention universal.
Finland will participate in the implementation of the Oslo Convention through humanitarian mine action.”
Finland preparing to continue in Chad
The meeting also discussed Finland’s participation in crisis management in Chad. Finland participates with 60 soldiers in the EU military crisis management operation in Chad. The operation is due to end in March 2009. Finland is preparing to continue its participation in Chad also as part of a possible UN operation.
The EU operation has, together with the EU Commission’s support measures and the civilian UN mission (MINURCAT), improved the security and humanitarian conditions in the region. To ensure positive development, the UN intends to take over the EU troops' work in March 2009. Stabilising the situation in Chad and the Central African Republic is part of the efforts to resolve the regionalised Darfur crisis.
In addition, Finland’s cooperation with the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Organization was discussed at the meeting. The Consultation, Command and Control Organization (NC3 Agency) is responsible for issues such as preparation, planning and competitive tendering of communications, surveillance and command systems.
The aim is to start negotiations on the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Finnish Ministry of Defence and the NC3 Agency. The purpose of the memorandum is to facilitate cooperation at the technical level and develop Finland’s national readiness and participation in crisis management. Sweden signed a similar memorandum in 2007.
Further information: cluster munitions: Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5032; Pentti Olin, Adviser, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8242; Chad operation: Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Helena Partanen, Defence Counsellor, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8135; NATO NC3 Agency cooperation: Jari Takanen, Counsellor, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8258