Vanhanen: South Ossetia crisis will affect next national defence report

Finland not offered any “special role” in resolving crisis

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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) believes that the crisis between Russia and Georgia over the territory of South Ossetia is having an effect on the upcoming government report on security and defence policy, which is now being finalised.
      “It would be crazy to say that it does not have an impact, because of course it does. The real world always affects how things are dealt with”, Vanhanen said.
      He voiced his views on Monday at a press conference held at his Kesäranta residence, marking the end of the summer period.
     
Vanhanen noted that frozen conflicts, such as the situation in Ossetia, have been taken into account in previous reports as well. Now the risk of a clash became real in one conflict zone.
      “In preparing the report one must very carefully analyse what happened, what kinds of forces were used, how they were mobilised. It gives its own image of how military power is used in conflicts”, Vanhanen said.
      He pointed out that the situation in Georgia might spark more debate in Sweden than in Finland.
      “Over there they are discussing whether or not they should change the concept that they have chosen. They have not invested in regional defence for a long time. Finland has chosen a different line”, Vanhanen observed.
      According to the Prime Minister, Finland has not been offered any special role in resolving the conflict. He says that Finland is ready to offer to serve as the venue of a peace conference, for instance, if Finland is asked to do so.
     
The economic situation is invariably growing weaker, according to Prime Minister Vanhanen.
      In his view, the government had prepared for weaker economic prospects in advancde, which means that the promised tax cuts can be implemented nevertheless.
      Vanhanen is urging moderation in wage negotiations. He has called the various labour market organisations to discuss the matter in mid-September. The issue involves both inflation and Finnish competitiveness.
     
Turning to climate matters, Vanhanen emphasised that decisions need to be made in climate policy that have a genuine impact on the realisation of climate goals.
      For instance, the fact that liquid fuels are required to contain just under six per cent of biological fuel by 2010 reduces [carbon dioxide] emissions by 900 tonnes a year. That is 120 times more than the Espoo Metro will bring on an annual level”, he noted.
      One of the decisions was a legislative move, while the other will consume hundreds of millions of euros in the national budget.
      He also noted that if 100,000 households were to switch from oil heating to the use of wood pellets, or heat pumps, carbon dioxide emissions would decline by a million tonnes.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Politicians: Finnish policy unaffected by Caucasus crisis (13.8.2008)
  COMMENT: Finland’s OSCE role requires circumspection (13.8.2008)
  Stubb voices optimism over Georgia deal (12.8.20008)

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