Finland plans to send a few dozen soldiers to the European Union crisis management operation in Chad.
The soldiers are expected to be in Africa in the autumn, possibly already in November.
The EU has initially asked Finland's willingness to provide forces for the operation, and Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party) says that Finland is taking a "basically positive" view of the matter.
The Ministry of Defence is currently looking into how many and what kinds of troops could be sent to a possible operation.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said on Tuesday that deploying even a small number of Finnish troops in the area is a significant decision for Finland. He reiterated the view that Finland cannot send hundreds of troops under any circumstances.
Defence Minister Häkämies also does not believe that the number will be very great.
The operation got a United Nations mandate on Tuesday. The EU will decide on sending the troops as soon as possible, and the matter will be taken up at an unofficial meeting of EU ministers of defence in Portugal this weekend.
In Finland the deployment will require an authorisation from the President and the ministerial committee on foreign and security policy. The decision is expected in October.
The EU has planned an operation involving 3,000-4,000 soldiers. France has promised to provide half. Sweden also plans to send hundreds of soldiers.
The Chad operation gives support to the UN and African Union crisis management operation in neighbouring Sudan, which is to involve tens of thousands of soldiers.
Finland was to have taken part in the pacification of the situation as part of the Swedish-led Nordic battle group of the EU.
However, the Nordic force will not be sent to Africa. One possible reason for this is that the EU battle group is intended for short missions, whereas the Chad operation requires a longer presence.
