Report calls for closure of four military garrisons as cost-cutting measure

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Brigadier-General Arto Räty, who has been examining ways of cutting costs in Finland's Defence Forces, does not believe that small reductions in personnel in all areas, cutting back on activities, and merging administrative procedures would sufficiently reduce defence spending.
      In his report, submitted to Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) on Tuesday, Räty says that the only way to achieve long-term savings is to shut down a number of garrisons.
      Räty's views reflect those expressed by Chief of Defence Juhani Kaskeala last summer. Defence Minister Kääriäinen himself has taken a more cautious view of shutting down entire military units.
     
After examining a number of options, Räty recommends that two garrisons should be shut down in 2008, and two more a few years later.
      Räty did not make specific recommendations of what forces should be closed. Included in the list of possible targets are nine units, but the list was reduced by one already on Tuesday, when Kääriäinen repeated his promise that the Northern Karelia Brigade would not be closed. He gave no guarantees concerning other units.
      A careful reading of Räty's recommendations suggests that the most endangered infantry unit is the Savo Brigade in Mikkeli. Also in jeopardy are the Helsinki Air Defence Regiment in Hyrylä, and the Lapland Air Defence Regiment in Rovaniemi, as well as the Engineers' Regiment in Keuruu. One of them should be shut down already in 2008.
      Although the Light Infantry Brigade in Sodankylä, in Finnish Lapland, is on Räty's list, it is unlikely to be eliminated, as it is the only unit where training is available for truly arctic conditions. The Uusimaa Brigade in Dragsvik is protected by language legislation: if it were to go, a new training centre would have to be set up elsewhere for Finland's Swedish-language conscripts.
      Räty's proposal also puts forward options for new arrangements with Finland's weapons' depots. The proposals could lead to the closing of arms depots in Keuruu and Kuopio.
     
Kääriäinen would not take a stand on any of the proposals at this point. The Ministry of Defence plans to draw up its final proposals on cost cuts "soon", and bring the proposals before the relevant Parliamentary committees. Kääriäinen himself will decide on the possible closures in March.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Planned reductions in armed forces will cause problems with conscription (15.2.2005)

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