FINNS SAY 'YES' TO EXTENDING POLICE TRAINERS AT

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000476

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/PC, NEA/I, AND EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER SNAR SOCI IZ FI
SUBJECT: FINNS SAY 'YES' TO EXTENDING POLICE TRAINERS AT
JIPTC

REF: STATE 72189


1. (U) We delivered reftel demarche to Anu Laamanen-Ryter,
Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Unit for Civilian
Crisis Management. Laamanen-Ryter told us the Finns had
already concluded that the Jordan International Police
Training Center (JIPTC) will need to remain in operation past
the end of this year, and are planning to include funds in
next year's budget to keep the ten Finnish police instructors
in place through the end of 2006.


2. (U) Laamanen-Ryter mentioned that there is one "technical
problem" that is a growing worry for the Finns. The GoF is
seeking to conclude a bilateral agreement with the Government
of Jordan on the status of the Finnish instructors that would
give them the same legal standing as members of an embassy's
administrative and technical staff under the Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The text of the
bilateral agreement has been completed but the Jordanians
have yet to sign it. The GoF is not clear on the reason for
the delay, said Laamanen-Ryter. She sees no substantive
problem, since the agreement is essentially the same as those
Jordan has already signed with Sweden and Austria.


3. (U) Laamanen-Ryter said that the Finnish ambassador to
Damascus, who is also accredited to Amman, has brought this
up with the Jordanians several times, but to no avail. The
Finnish police instructors are growing increasingly restive,
and complained to Foreign Minister Tuomioja when he had lunch
with them during a recent visit to Jordan. The Finns do not
believe this matter has reached the point where it needs to
be elevated to the ministerial level, said Laamanen-Ryter,
but she wondered if the U.S. could shed any light on the
matter via our own contacts with JIPTC.
MACK