Finland’s participation in international crisis management in 2010-2011
Government Communications Unit
Press release 122/2010
9.4.2010
On Friday, 9 April, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s crisis management participation in 2010 and 2011.
As a result of the favourable development of the security situation in Kosovo, the focus of military crisis management is shifting away from the Balkans Finland will continue its participation in crisis management activities in Afghanistan which will be the most important international crisis management operations in the near future. Finland will begin preparations for a decision concerning potential participation in the EU-led Atalanta operation with a vessel unit in 2011.
The meeting also discussed the withdrawal of Finnish troops from the UN-led MINURCAT mission in Chad (United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad). Due to the uncertain future of the mission, Ireland decided last week to withdraw its battalion, as part of which the Finnish troops have operated. Because the future of the operation is uncertain and the Finnish troops no longer have the necessary operating prerequisites due to the Irish withdrawal, the situation will lead to Finland’s withdrawal too. The MINURCAT mission has brought results and Finland has supported UN efforts to continue the operation.
Finland will assess its opportunities to participate in other UN-led operations now that the withdrawal of troops from the MINURCAT mission begins. Participation in international military crisis management is clearly diminishing. The aim is to maintain an adequate level of influence in military crisis management participation in the future too.
In the last couple of years, Finland’s civilian crisis management participation has grown. In March, approximately 160 Finnish experts were engaged in civilian crisis management, 50 out of which were women. Finland will continue its strong participation in EU-led civilian crisis management operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Georgia.
Inquiries: 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