NATO Secretary-General does not want to push Finland on land mine issue

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer hopes as many countries as possible would sign Ottawa Treaty

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NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer sees the Finnish debate on the future of its infantry land mines as a purely domestic matter. De Hoop Scheffer said in Helsinki on Thursday that it is not NATO’s business to take a stand on the issue.
      "NATO does not have an official policy with respect to the mines. There are NATO countries that are involved in the campaign against anti-personnel land mines, but as the Secretary-General of NATO I have no stand on an issue which is up to the Finnish Parliament and government", he said.
      However, he also gave his personal view on the issue:
      "Certainly I hope that as many countries as possible would sign the Ottawa Treaty." The Ottawa treaty bans the use of infantry land mines.
     
The NATO leader had praise for Finland’s involvement in the NATO-led UN operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He said that Finland has a very important role in those operations, and that especially in Kosovo the Finns performed very well in difficult conditions in March this year.
      Receiving the praise was Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP). In addition, the Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre), President Tarja Halonen, and Defence Minister Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre).
      During their discussions, Foreign Minister Tuomioja briefed his guest about the government’s upcoming defence policy report. Tuomioja promised that the report would guarantee continued effective cooperation between NATO and Finland.
      De Hoop Scheffer said that Finland and the other Western members of the Partnership for Peace programme would not be pushed aside, even though the programme is focusing on Central Asia. He said that countries like Finland have much to contribute when NATO takes part in the development of democratic institutions of new Partnership countries.
      Asked if he wanted to comment on the Finns’ "unwillingness" to join NATO, the answer was a quick "no".
     
There has been much debate especially in Europe on how the future relationship between NATO and the European Union should be developed.
      De Hoop Scheffer said that the time is not right for great new plans. The Secretary-General emphasised that both organisations are in a state of transition, which means that it is now best to focus on the development of practical cooperation.
     
Developing the relationship between NATO and the EU has not been helped by the internal split within the military alliance caused by the US-led war in Iraq. The strong opposition of France and Germany towards the action is still reflected in NATO’s vacillation on its role in the stabilisation of Iraq.
      De Hoop Scheffer conceded that there are differences, but emphasised that since the June summit an understanding has been taking shape in NATO on the importance of stabilising Iraq. He noted that NATO is already taking part in the training of Iraqi security forces.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  NATO Secretary-General praises Finland’s role in Partnership for Peace (7.9.2004)
  Finnish soldiers arrest suspected leader of Kosovo rioting (25.3.2004)

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