Parliament debates Afghanistan and NATO Response Force

Centre Party leans toward supporting participation in NRF

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The Finnish military presence in Afghanistan was the focus of Parliamentary debate on Tuesday, after the government had submitted a report on Finland's crisis management operations.
      The debate also revealed how much support there is in Parliament for Finnish participation in the activities of the NATO Response Force (NRF).
      Finland is considering taking on more responsibility for training the Afghan army, and possibly taking on command responsibility in regional reconstruction. The government predicts that the Finnish presence would be a lengthy one.
     
The greatest reservations on the matter came from the opposition Left Alliance, which charged that Finland is simply taking instructions from the United States in Afghanistan. Left Alliance Parliamentary group chairwoman Annika Lapintie called for limits on the activities of Finns in Afghanistan, and a complete pullout from the country if the United States attacks Iran.
      The Left Alliance was supported by the Christian Democrats. Toimi Kankaanniemi said that while a rapid pullout probably is not possible, measures should be taken to make a withdrawal easier. The True Finns said that for now, it is best to stay in Afghanistan.
      The largest opposition group, the Social Democratic Party, gave its support to the government's policy in Afghanistan, although Liisa Jaakonsaari called on the government to provide Parliament with information on crisis management, which would go beyond the military activities.
      There was widespread support for the plan to participate in the Darfur crisis management operation in Sudan and Chad.
      Finland has also said that it is considering the possibility of taking part in operations of the NATO Response Force. Finland is already taking part in NRF exercises.
     
The Parliamentary group of the main government party, the Centre, asked the government to implement policies based on its "positive consideration". This is seen as a departure from the group's previous view that the NATO exercises are primarily a way to train Finnish forces.
      As for the other government parties, the National Coalition Party and the Swedish People's Party supported participation in the NRF forces. However, speaking on behalf of the Swedish People's Party group, Elisabeth Nauclér, the MP from the Åland Islands, said that the operations should always have a mandate from the United Nations. The Greens had nothing to say on the matter.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland and Sweden to stay out of core of Nato Response Force (26.10.2007)
  Green chair Tarja Cronberg opposes participation in NATO Response Force (24.9.2007)
  Foreign Affairs Committee sees no obstacle to participation in NATO Response Force (18.6.2007)

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