Finland to eliminate infantry land mines by 2016; defence personnel cuts announced

Ottawa Treaty to be signed in 2012

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Finland is to join the Ottawa Treaty which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines in 2012. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said on Friday that the last of Finland’s infantry land mines would be eliminated in 2016.
      Between 2009 and 2016 the mines will be phased out, and replaced by new weapons systems, for which the government will provide EUR 200 million in extra funding. In addition, the Ministry of Defence will take another EUR 100 million out of its own budget for the purpose.
      Meanwhile, Finnish soldiers are still being trained in the use of the controversial weapons.
     
After Friday’s meeting of the government’s foreign and security policy committee and President Tarja Halonen, the government also announced a number of changes in the organisation of the Finnish Defence Forces.
      The most important change was the transfer of the staff headquarters of the Finnish Army to Mikkeli, and the establishment of Naval headquarters in Turku.
      The present national defence regions and military districts will be abolished, and the staffs of seven military districts will be set up as Army regional commands. The reforms will come into effect as of the beginning of 2008.
     
The upcoming government report on security policy will bring considerable cutbacks to the Defence Forces.
      About 1,200 jobs in the military are to be eliminated by 2012, said Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) and Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala at a press conference held in Parliament on Friday.
      In addition, 500 employees will be given new jobs within the Defence Forces.
      Kääriäinen noted that many employees of the Defence Forces will retire in the next ten years.
      The full defence policy report will be presented to Parliament in about two weeks.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  NATO Secretary-General does not want to push Finland on land mine issue (10.9.2004)
  Finland to give up infantry land mines in 2016 (2.9.2004)

Links:
  The Finnish Defence Forces

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