Minister for Foreign Affairs Soini: Crisis management can achieve sustainable results

Press release 197/2016
20.10.2016

“If we are to achieve sustainable results in crisis management we need a comprehensive approach and more local ownership,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini in his speech at an event at the Tampere Paasikivi Society on 19 October.

With his speech the Foreign Minister marked Finland’s 60 years in international crisis management.

In his speech, Foreign Minister Soini mentioned two basic conditions for sustainable results in crisis management. First, a key target should be that the local authorities and security structures will be able bear the responsibility for national security and stability within a reasonable time.

“Although the situation in Afghanistan is still extremely alarming, there have been positive developments: more girls are enrolling in schools and the Afghan police and army took over the main responsibility for security several years ago,” said Foreign Minister Soini.

The second condition for achieving sustainable results, according to the Foreign Minister,  is a comprehensive approach to crisis management. The international community must have a wide range of instruments at its disposal, including military crisis management, civilian crisis management, humanitarian aid, development efforts, and naturally also political processes.

In his speech, Soini also reminded that Finland will continue its active participation in international crisis management, as stated in the government programme.

“During this parliamentary term we have strengthened our involvement in the UNIFIL operation in Lebanon and in Erbil in northern Iraq, and we have decided to increase our contribution in Mali. We will be sending more police officers to UN peace-keeping operations. Active involvement in crisis management operations is important for Finland and an established part of our international role.”

In his speech, Foreign Minister Soini also emphasised the importance of promoting dialogue and mediation. As concrete examples of this he mentioned the Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, which Finland supports, and the Helsinki Policy Forum.

“Promotion of dialogue and mediation has already for a long time been a priority area in Finland’s foreign policy. It is also one of my own priorities as the Foreign Minister. My personal goal is that in future we will truly invest more in prevention,” said Foreign Minister Soini.

Inquiries: Raili Lahnalampi, Chief of Cabinet, Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 50 550 7546

The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are in the format [email protected].