The first Finns to Aceh today

Press release 244/2005
10 August, 2005


The first twelve Finnish experts are leaving today to Aceh to join the vanguard of the EU and Asean representatives preparing for the peace monitoring operation that is due to start on 15 September.

The mutual agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement GAM commiting the parties to the peace process is scheduled to be signed in Helsinki on 15 August. The parties have asked the European Union to observe the fullfillment of the treaty. It will be a civil crisis management operation, which is participated mainly by the EU member states and five Asean countries. The number of observers is expected to rise a little above two hundred. Thirty-five of them are to be Finnish.

The monitoring is intended to be launched on 15 September and continued until April 2006. Other Finns participating in the operation will travel to the destination in September during the initial stage of the actual operation.

The Aceh operation is a demanding civil crisis management mission, which requires knowledge, for example, in disarmament, policing, the rule of law, human rights and media. Finland has also offered to participate in organising the EU monitoring training. The EU will decide on the executive structure of the operation as well as other cooperation at the beginning of September.

Further information: Tiina Jortikka-Laitinen, Counsellor, Unit of Civil Crisis Management, tel. 09 160 55696, and Tommi Viljanen, Governmental Secretary, Ministry of the Interior, tel. 09 160 42346.