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