Finland ready to send 200 peacekeepers to Bosnia
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Finland is preparing to send a force of 200 peacekeeping troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December this year. The government’s foreign and security policy select committee discussed the issue on Friday.
The European Union is setting up a force in the area, which will take over tasks from the current NATO-led SFOR forces. The EU will decide on the composition of the force in September, after which the government will seek Parliamentary authorisation to send the forces.
This so-called ALTHEA operation will involve a force of about 7,000, comprising three units. The Finnish forces are to be part of a northern force of about 1,200 soldiers, from about ten countries.
During the first six months the Finnish forces are to coordinate the formation and maintenance of the northern unit, for which Finland will name a commander. Finnish forces had a similar mission in Kosovo last year.
Finland plans to provide a communications system for the use of the command of the unit, including staff. Such a system is currently in use in Kosovo.
In addition to a unit of 200 peacekeepers, Finland is preparing to deploy about 30 people for reception and maintenance activities.
The ALTHEA operation is to be based on planning and staff structures of NATO, but it will have a UN mandate. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs believes that it will prove to be the most significant military crisis management operations every led by the EU. It will comprise both military and civilian crisis management.
Bosnia already has EU observers and police. These forces include about 20 Finns.
Helsingin Sanomat
