Government puts forward plan for Lebanon peacekeeping operation

print this

The Finnish government gave its approval on Monday to a report to Parliament on Finland’s possible participation in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Lebanon as of October. Under the government’s plan, Finland would send up to 250 soldiers - a company of engineers with the backup of light infantry - to take part in the multinational UNIFIL force.
      According to a report that is to be submitted to Parliament, the reconnaissance and preparatory units of the force could be in Lebanon already from the beginning of October, and the main force could arrive by early November. The clearing and construction work would continue through late 2007. The cost of the operation would be more than EUR 46 million, to which the UN would contribute less than EUR seven million.
     
According to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre), the government’s foreign and security policy committee discussed the risks of the operation "extensively".
      "Whenever soldiers are sent to a crisis area, there are risks. Soldiers do not see Lebanon as an area of very great risks. The breakdown of the cease-fire is the greatest risk. One special risk is linked with unexploded mines and shells", Vanhanen said.
      The Prime Minister also noted that the Finns would be responsible for the clearing of the areas patrolled by the UNIFIL forces, and the routes of transport, and not wider mine clearance.
      "The most important decision was that the force will not be responsible for disarming Hezbollah. That will be for the Lebanese army. Also in the background is the commitment of both sides to the operation", Vanhanen emphasised.
     
Vanhanen also said that the UN rules on the use of force have been resolved. According to the regulations for UNIFIL, the UN forces can resort to "deadly force" both for self-defence and to make sure that areas under its control are not used for "hostile purposes". Vanhanen pointed out that the use of deadly force has been permitted in previous operations as well.
      According to Prime Minister Vanhanen, the size of the Finnish contingent could be reduced somewhat if Finland ends up working together with another country interested in engineer operations. There had been discussion on possible cooperation among the Nordic Countries, but that idea did not take wind.
      Vanhanen said that Finland is "holding discussions" with another country on the matter, but would not identify the country while discussions are still going on.
     
The European Union countries announced a week ago that they would be prepared to send a combined 7,000 soldiers to Lebanon. According to the government’s report, a formal decision on Finnish participation could be made in a presentation to the President as early as Friday of this week.
      Before a formal decision, the government must hear the views of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and the full Parliament.
     
Parliament’s preliminary debate on the matter is today, Tuesday. Vanhanen expects it to win Parliamentary approval.
      Vanhanen, who is also the chairman of the Centre Party, promised that his party’s MPs would be free to vote their conscience. The peacekeeping operation has widespread approval among the Social Democrats, as well as in the opposition National Coalition Party.
      The Greens take a positive view in principle, on the condition that the rules on the use of force are spelled out clearly. The Left Alliance accepts the report, because the planned operation is a UN mission. The Christian Democrats have called for either a smaller force, or for sending merely a few experts to UNIFIL staff headquarters.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  EU ministers agree to continue diplomacy with Iran, peace efforts in Mideast (4.9.2006)
  European poll: Many Finns unwilling to take sides on Lebanon conflict (29.8.2006)
  Syrian Foreign Minister meets Tuomioja in Helsinki (24.8.2006)
  Foreign Affairs Committee endorses sending peacekeepers to Lebanon (23.8.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat