Finnish officers may join EU forces in Congo
No member state wants to lead operation yet
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Finnish soldiers may take part in a peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo next summer, where they would be part in possible crisis management activities of the European Union.
According to Finnish Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen, only a few staff officers would be involved. He says that Finland cannot spare any more personnel, because there are already a number of Finnish peacekeepers in Afghanistan and in the Balkans.
Finnish military resources are also consumed by Finnish preparations for next year, when Finland will be primarily responsible for readiness of the battle groups of the EU's rapid deployment forces.
"Africa is a test for the EU on how it can cope as a crisis management organisation", Kääriäinen said on Monday. He was reached by telephone in Innsbruck, Austria, where the defence ministers of the EU countries were examining the possibilities of a Congo operation.
The UN asked for crisis management help in DR Congo, which is to hold its first free elections in June this year.
There are about 17,000 UN peacekeepers in Congo, but more forces are needed because of the size of the country. The troops that are there have faced constant attacks.
The EU could send fewer than 500 peacekeepers to the Congolese capital Kinshasa for the elections. In addition to this, nearly 800 EU peacekeepers could be sent to the country's borders to monitor the situation. They would cross into DR Congo only if the situation were to become more restless.
The Congo operation would be a test for the EU battle groups. France, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, and Belgium have all promised to send forces there. The UK and Italy have declined to participate.
So far, no country has volunteered to take responsibility for the command of the operation. France led a small EU operation in Congo in 2003, which also involved some Swedish peacekeepers. However, France has said that it does not want to lead this one.
Germany has been seen as a possible leader of the operation.
Finland did not send soldiers to the 2003 mission, but it did take part in the EU's first crisis management operation outside Europe by providing EUR 100,000 in funding.
The EU ministers of defence are continuing their planning of the Congo operation today, Tuesday.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 7.3.2006 - TODAY |
 Finnish officers may join EU forces in Congo |
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