Peacekeepers home from Cyprus

Government Information Unit Press release 402/2004 14 December 2004

At their meeting on Tuesday 14 December, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland's withdrawal from the UNFICYP operation in Cyprus, the situation regarding the development of the EU battle groups and capability cooperation within the framework of the Nato Partnership for Peace.

Finland has been taking part in the UNFICYP peacekeeping operation in Cyprus for forty years, since the operation was established. Recently, Finland has contributed only three peacekeepers to the operation. Now Cyprus has joined the EU and is itself preparing to take part in crisis management duties in other countries. Despite bilateral division, the situation on the island is peaceful and when the UN Resolution to resolve the situation collapsed in the referendum, the Security Council decided to slim down the peacekeeping operation. Finland intends to bring home its remaining peacekeepers in summer 2005.

The meeting also discussed the current state of the preparatory work on the EU battle groups in the light of the EU Capabilities Conference held on November 22.

Finland will continue to develop interoperability and its military capability within the framework of participation in renewed PFP capability work. Developing its ability to cooperate and perform is important for Finland to be able to play its full part in international crisis management in the future.

Further information:
Elina Kalkku, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel: +358 9 1605 5480
Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Director of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel: +358 9 1608 8154