Foreign Affairs Committee endorses sending peacekeepers to Lebanon

EU to have key role in effort

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The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament has come out in favour of the government's call to deploy Finnish soldiers in the United Nations peacekeeping effort in Lebanon. The committee, which met on Tuesday, was unanimous in its decision.
      The committee endorsed the proposal that Finland send a company of military engineers for clearing and construction work. The government's proposal to send between 200 and 250 troops to Lebanon was seen as realistic. Only Bjarne Kallis of the Christian Democrats felt that the number was too great.
     
The committee was briefed by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) and a number of experts. The committee agreed that the government can continue with its preparations for the peacekeeping mission, but it also called for more precise information on details of the operation itself.
      Committee chairwoman Liisa Jaakonsaari (SDP) noted that the situation in Lebanon is in constant flux. "If unrest continues in the area, Finland will not be able to participate", she said.
     
There was some discussion in the committee about what was seen by some as a vague mandate from the UN. Jaakonsaari insisted that the mandate was quite clear:
      "The question is more how the EU member states interpret it. The mandate is being used as an excuse for wanting to consider participation."
      Tuomioja feels that the main content of the peacekeeping operation is clear, but that the rules on using force need to be clarified further.
      "It is apparent that they will be similar to those in missions in which we are already involved", Tuomioja said.
      Both Tuomioja and Jaakonsaari emphasised that the operation will not involve coercive peace enforcement.
     
An idea was put forward at the meeting, to the effect that Finland could take part in the early stages of the operation for about two years, for example. Sending a company of engineers was seen as a good idea, because such a team could be given a clear limited term of operations.
      There were calls for quick decisions from other EU countries.
      "It is especially important for the EU to get its forces together, because this is a credibility issue for the EU's foreign and security policy, and of crisis management", Jaakonsaari said.
      Committee member Jari Vilén (Nat. Coalition Party), who is also the chairman of the Grand Committee, expressed the view that delay would make the task more difficult.
     
Foreign Minister Tuomioja noted on Tuesday that the member states of the European Union have a key responsibility in compiling the Lebanese peacekeeping forces, and in getting the operation started.
      However, he also emphasised that the effort is not an EU operation, "not even an EU operation within the UN".
      "The EU cannot resolve the matters alone, even though its role has constantly been growing in the Middle East", said Tuomioja at a meeting of heads of Finnish missions abroad.
      About half of the 15,000 UN peacekeepers to be sent to Lebanon are expected to come from the European Union countries. Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Monday that Italy is ready to lead the effort. Tuomioja said that such an arrangement would suit Finland.
     
Finland has called a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the upcoming peacekeeping effort in Lebanon. The meeting on Friday will be chaired by Foreign Minister Tuomioja.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland prepares to send engineer company to Lebanon (21.8.2006)

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