Defence course to be offered to foreign ambassadors
Two day event to explain basic principles of Finnish security policy
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Finland is planning a new kind of information package aimed at ambassadors of foreign countries stationed in Finland. All of the ambassadors are to be invited to a two day course on Finnish national defence.
The course will take place after the traditional Independence Day reception hosted by President Tarja Halonen on December 6th. The timing is aimed to make it easier for ambassadors who are accredited to Helsinki, but who are stationed in another capital to take part.
At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State Pertti Torstila, said that he expects the course to be a great success. The registration period is not yet over, but a large proportion of the ambassadors have already said that they would come.
“Security policy is the area that ambassadors are most interested in. We intend to thoroughly clarify our policy line and to answer all possible questions”, Torstila says.
A need to clarify Finland’s policies emerges from time to time. Most recently, questions have been raised by the decision not to join an international treaty banning cluster weapons. The President and the government decided last week that Finland should not sign the treaty.
Torstila notes that people in Finland do not always realise that in many issues this country is a last holdout in Europe. “For instance, our regional defence system is a curiosity. It creates a need to explain and justify our policy line. This policy of ours certainly has its own logic.”
Speaking at the course will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party), Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, and the chiefs of staff of a number of ministries, among others. The ambassadors will also be given the opportunity to observe exercises of crisis management forces.
National defence courses for Finns have been held for the past 40 years. The system is seen to be unique in Europe.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 6.11.2008 - TODAY |
 Defence course to be offered to foreign ambassadors |
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