An action plan to reinforce Finnish know-how and participation in peace mediation
Press release 336/2011
14 December 2011
Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja presented the Action Plan for Mediation in Helsinki on 14 December. The action plan was prepared by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in line with the Government Programme. The action plan includes national and international measures applied by Finland to promote peace mediation, to strengthen its own capacity and to increase its participation in mediation. The action plan identifies concrete sectors where Finland can specifically offer its expertise. The action plan also investigates the financing of peace mediation.
Minister Tuomioja underlined the importance of cooperation and networking at national and international levels. In this way, the resources of a small country can be put to use as effectively as possible. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will convene a coordination group for peace mediation, including both public authorities and civil society actors. At international level, Finland has already made a significant contribution to cooperation by establishing, together with Turkey, the Friends of Mediation, a group comprised of States active in mediation, the UN and regional organisations. At the initiative of this group, the UN General Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on peace mediation. Nordic cooperation will also be increased.
Strengthening the role of women in peace processes serves as a natural brand for Finland, Foreign Minister Tuomioja emphasised. In peace mediation, Finland focuses on certain themes and geographic regions on the basis of the country’s own know-how and experience.
In order to intensify Finland’s participation in mediation efforts, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has appointed Kimmo Kiljunen, Ph.D. (Pol. Sc.), as Special Representative for regional peace mediation tasks. In addition, Pekka Haavisto, MP, will continue as the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative in the Horn of Africa and Sudan.
Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala emphasised that peace mediation is an important new strength in Finnish foreign policy. According to Minister Hautala, the purpose is also to finance mediation more flexibly from development cooperation funds when projects meet the criteria for official development aid agreed within the OECD.
In their comments, the civil society organisations attending the event praised the action plan’s practical approach. The action plan gives concrete expression to the contents of Finland’s peace mediation initiative, presented in 2010. Ministers Tuomioja and Hautala underlined that close cooperation with civil society organisations will continue in the implementation of the action plan as well.
Additional information: Susanna Parkkonen, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 50 377 5601; Katri Viinikka, Head of the Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, mobile tel. +358 40 753 2730