Ministry for Foreign Affairs to lead preparation of a comprehensive support programme for Afghanistan

Press release 136/2007
6 July, 2007

At the request of Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will begin preparations, to be conducted by various official bodies, for a comprehensive support programme for Afghanistan. The purpose is to survey Finland’s possibilities for increasing aid to Afghanistan.  In addition to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior will take part in the survey.

Alongside participation in military crisis management and the ongoing development cooperation work, there is a wish to increase actions in the civil sector. Finland can, for instance, increase the training provided to Afghanistan’s police forces and other security authorities. Finland can also provide expert assistance for developing border control activities. The material aid for the security authorities that Afghanistan would like to receive from Finland will be investigated as part of the planning of support for training. The material preconditions of Finnish troops will be improved. Finland’s participation in the ISAF operation in the long term will be reviewed. Cooperation with the other Nordic countries has a central role.

The intention is to bring the survey to the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy for handling in September–October.

Additional information: Director General Pilvi-Sisko Vierros, Political Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 55032 and Juha Kirstilä, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 552 8200