NATO strategy discussed at seminar in Helsinki

Rasmussen: no additional forces needed in Afghanistan

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The formulation of a new strategic concept for NATO has moved to the capital of the alliance's non-member, Finland.
      A seminar on the future of crisis management, hosted by Finland and Sweden, began in Helsinki on Thursday.
      The strategy, which is to serve as a political guideline for the alliance for the next ten years, has been discussed recently at seminars held in NATO member states, and in other locations as well, including the Russian capital Russia.
      “This is an open process, and we are taking advantage of the opportunity. The aim is to promote the inclusion of the partnership countries”, said Aapo Pölhö, Finland’s Ambassador to NATO.
     
At the seminar, no decisions will be made on NATO operations. Instead, participants are to discuss cooperation between civilian and military personnel in crisis management, with NATO’s strategy in mind.
      NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said before coming to Helsinki for the seminar that he does not believe that more international forces will be needed in Afghanistan, not even for the elections scheduled for next autumn.
      “The commanders in the field will make that assessment, but I expect that the present amount of forces will be enough”, Rasmussen said to Helsingin Sanomat.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  NATO Secretary-General wants “more significant” relations with Finland (3.3.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat