C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000528

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: KG MARR MOPS PREL AF FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH TO DEMARCHE KYRGYZ REGARDING MANAS AIRFIELD

REF: 081543

Classified By: POL CHIEF GREGORY THOME FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) In response to subject demarche, Hannele Voionmaa, MFA
Counselor for peacekeeping and military crisis management
operations, told PolChief that the GOF agreed June 8 to make
a formal approach to Kyrgyz authorities regarding US access
to Manas Airbase in Kyrgyzstan. The GOF has a strong
interest in ensuring that the US has appropriate and
affordable access to Manas, Voionmaa said, given that such
access has a direct impact on the success of Finland's own
ISAF operations in Afghanistan. Finland will instruct its
regional Ambassador to demarche the Kyrgyz in the coming days.
WARE