Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy

Government Communications Unit
Press release 342/2011
29.11.2011

On Tuesday 29 November, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation in Afghanistan and Finland's participation in military crisis management. At present, Finland has 195 soldiers serving in NATO's ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Finland will begin a reduction of troops by bringing home the additional 50 soldiers deployed in 2010.

In military crisis management, Finland will gradually shift the focus of its participation to training. Similarly Finland's participation as a whole will focus more on development cooperation, civilian crisis management and training of Afghan security authorities. Finland's development funding will be increased so that in 2014 country specific funding is to be raised to EUR 20 million. Strong involvement in the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, EUPOL, will also continue.

Finland welcomes the possible NATO-led follow-up mission focusing on training and will discuss the possibility of participating in the mission at a later time.

The meeting also discussed implementation of the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions. The effects of the Oslo Convention are still monitored in line with the Government Report on Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2009.

Inquiries: Elina Kalkku, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5326; Anu Laamanen, Deputy Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5519; and Esa Pulkkinen, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8140