Finland prepares to send engineer company to Lebanon

Up to 250 troops could be deployed by November

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Finland is preparing to send no more than a reinforced company - 200 to 250 soldiers - to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping effort in Lebanon.
     Under the plan, the company would comprise engineers specialised in clearance or construction.
     The plan to deploy Finns was announced on Friday afternoon after a meeting of the government's Security Policy Committee, which was also attended by President Tarja Halonen.
     The Ministry of Defence was officially authorised to start preparations for the operation. An official decision to participate in the peacekeeping effort is to be made when Parliament votes on it after receiving a report from the government. Parliament returns from its summer break on September 5th. The Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will be briefed on the situation already on Tuesday.
     The President and the government also agreed to a request from the European Union to deliver 1.5 kilometres of floating oil barriers to help combat a massive spill caused by the recent fighting.
     
Preparations for the Lebanon operation at the UN and its member states is still in its early stages. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that he expects that the UN would be able to decide on the rules for the use of force and other conditions sometime during the coming week.
     Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said that he expects the Finnish force to be in Lebanon about two months after a decision is made to deploy them. Vanhanen notes that the starting point for the UN is that the whole operation would be ready by early November.
     "These are not rapid deployment forces", Vanhanen pointed out.
     In the autumn of 1982 the Finnish battalion got to Lebanon in just over a month.
     
The size and composition of the Finnish company to be sent to Lebanon depends largely on whether or not the force is to be part of a larger battalion, or if it would operate as a separate unit.
     If it operates on its own, it would require an infantry platoon for protection, increasing the size of the force to 250 troops.
     An appropriate platoon is not yet in sight. Tuomioja says that Finland hopes for cooperation with other Nordic Countries. However, other Nordic Countries have so far only promised to send naval vessels to the area.
     
If the main task of the Finnish soldiers is to be clearance, it would probably comprise combat engineers trained for international missions in Säkylä. There are enough reservists available for a one-year operation.
     If the Finns were to focus on construction, the company would comprise reservists with a construction background.
     
There are usually enough reservists available, who would be willing to take on international duties. However, there is a shortage of regular staff. Nevertheless, Defence Minister Seppo Kääriäinen gave assurances on Friday that there would be enough personnel for the mission.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Peacekeeping veteran wants Finland to join UN force in South Lebanon (18.8.2006)
  Defence Minister Kääriäinen: Assembling large Lebanon force could be difficult (17.8.2006)
  Finns to be included in Lebanon peacekeeping force (16.8.2006)

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