Finland's crisis management participation and military crisis management capability development
Government Communications Unit
Press release 203/2010
4.6.2010
On Friday 4 June, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's potential participation in the EU-led Atalanta crisis management operation off the Somali coast. Finland prepares to participate in the operation with a vessel unit during the first half of 2011 for the duration of 4-5 months. In accordance with the Act on Military Crisis Management, a report on the matter will be prepared for Parliament.
Operation Atalanta, launched in the autumn of 2008, has performed well in its primary objective in protecting vessels transporting humanitarian aid. One third of Somalia’s population of 9 million needs nutritional support and one in six Somali children is acutely malnourished. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reaches some 3 million people in Somalia with food supplies annually. Atalanta has secured 72 safe deliveries of food to Somalia by the WFP and the amount of food corresponds to the amount of food aid to Somalia of an entire year (365,000 tonnes). The EU has paid special attention to the judicial issues relating to the operation, including the question of bringing detained pirates to justice. Judicial questions will be taken into account also in the preparations to be made prior to Finland’s crisis management participation.
The meeting also discussed Finland’s participation in UN-led crisis management operations. Finland is in the process of withdrawing troops from the MINURCAT mission in Chad and the Central African Republic which will terminate by the end of 2010. The United Nations remains a key organisation in international crisis management and Finland intends to continue to contribute actively in UN crisis management activities.
Finland’s military crisis management capabilities will be developed with a view to our cooperation with the EU and NATO and the development of Nordic defence cooperation.
Approximately 500 Finnish soldiers are currently deployed in crisis management operations and 160 experts carry out civilian crisis management duties. Some 65 of them are women.
Inquiries: Timo Kantola, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480 and Hannu Ojala, Lieutenant Commander, Staff Officer, Ministry of Defence, +358 9 1608 8175