Finnish participation in the EU military crisis management operation in Chad and Central African Republic

Press release 288/2007
21 December 2007

The Finnish Government decided in its meeting on 20 December to propose that the President of the Republic would make a resolution on Finnish participation in the EU military crisis management operation in Chad and Central African Republic by deploying a protection platoon as well as necessary support and supply elements and 2-4 staff officers. Preparations have been made to group the Finnish detachment in the operation area at the beginning of February 2008. There are already two Finnish staff officers working at the operation staff at the EU Operational Headquarters in Paris.

The EU crisis management operation currently under preparation is a significant additional contribution to the long-standing efforts of the Union and the whole international community to tackle the Darfur crisis and ensure regional stability. The goal is to support the improvement of the security situation in the operation area, enhance the security of civilian population, the refugees in particular, make it easier to deliver humanitarian assistance to the area, promote establishment of favourable conditions for the return of displaced persons, and to support the operations of the UN police mission (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, MINURCAT) and the UN-trained Chad police officers in the area.

Additional information: Director Timo Kantola, Unit for Security Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480, and Director Mari Eteläpää, International Defence Policy Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8135