Finland's participation in crisis management operations
Government Information Unit
Press release 19/2005
21 January 2005
On Friday, 21 January, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's participation in crisis management operations in 2005.
Participation in international crisis management activities is an essential part of Finland's foreign and security policy and the aim is to improve international security and thus strengthen security in Finland, too. A particular challenge is to create rapid reaction capacity for military and civil crisis management functions within the EU.
Finland will continue its participation in crisis management operations in Western Balkans, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The total strength of Finland's involvement is estimated to remain at the level of some 1,000 peacekeepers. Finland will continue to head the EU-run operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Nato-run operation in Kosovo. In Africa, Finland will, in particular, contribute to the development of peacekeeping training. In Afghanistan, Finland will continue participation in the Nato-led ISAF operation in Kabul and in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in northwest Afghanistan. Finland intends to bring its involvement in the peacekeeping operation in Cyprus to an end in autumn 2005.
Finland will continue its participation in international civil crisis management activities under the EU, OSCE, UN, Council of Europe and other international arrangements in, e.g., Western Balkans, South Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Jordan. Civil crisis management aims to promote and strengthen development towards democracy, respect of human rights and rule of law, good administration and well-functioning civil society in crisis regions. Civil crisis management is primarily carried out by sending civilian experts to the crisis-struck regions and making their expertise available for the use of various international organisations' field operations and crisis management operations. The EU is currently developing its rapid reaction capacity for civil crisis management in catastrophe situations.
Further information: Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480 and Anu Laamanen-Ryter, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5357