Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HELSINKI817
2006-08-17 04:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
FINLAND SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE 200 TROOPS TO UNIFIL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000817
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE 200 TROOPS TO UNIFIL
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Polchief Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000817
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE 200 TROOPS TO UNIFIL
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Polchief Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (SBU) Finnish MFA Secretary of State (D Equivalent) Pentti
Torstila told Ambassador Ware Aug. 15 that Finland will seek
to provide up to 200 additional troops for enhanced UNIFIL
operations in Southern Lebanon. Confirming public comments
made by President Tarja Halonen, Torstila explained that the
GOF's annual PKO budget (roughly USD 100 million) has already
been appropriated for 2006 and largely committed for 2007;
therefore supporting Finland's UNIFIL contribution will
require a special authorization from Parliament. However,
the GOF is confident of Parliamentary approval and hopes the
troops could be made available no later than October.
2. (SBU) Torstila agreed with Ambassador that the
international community must now unite behind a second UNSC
resolution that authorizes UNIFIL to enforce the provisions
of UNSC Resolution 1559. Finland, which currently has
soldiers in Lebanon and recently lost an officer when an
Israeli airstrike hit a UNIFIL position, has no illusions
about the how difficult it will be to disarm Hezbollah.
Torstila underscored the need for the UN Security Council to
move quickly to give UNIFIL a very strong "peace enforcement"
mandate. Currently, he said, UNIFIL has "failed to do its
job" because of a "vague" mandate inadequate for the task at
hand.
3. (C) Finally, Torstila acknowledged that the larger EU
member states must demonstrate leadership by making
significant troop contributions to UNIFIL. Because of the
lead role France has taken (along with the US) at the UNSC --
as well as France's overall military capacity as compared to
other EU states -- the French "have to take a strong role."
However, he expressed some concern that the French have
suddenly become reluctant to share information with EU
partners regarding their potential UNIFIL role and
contributions. "Most of my information on French thinking
comes from newspaper reports," he noted with some
frustration. Germany's response thus far has also been
disappointing, and Torstila pointed to the Israeli Prime
Minister's personal efforts to assure Berlin that "historical
factors" between Germany and Israel are no issue and German
troops would be welcome. Although individual EU member
states will make their own national troop contributions to
UNIFIL (as opposed to EU troops under ESDP),the GOF is still
planning, in its EU Presidenc capacity, to discuss UNIFIL
troop contributionswith Germany, France, Italy and its
Nordic partnrs in the coming days.
WARE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE 200 TROOPS TO UNIFIL
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Polchief Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (SBU) Finnish MFA Secretary of State (D Equivalent) Pentti
Torstila told Ambassador Ware Aug. 15 that Finland will seek
to provide up to 200 additional troops for enhanced UNIFIL
operations in Southern Lebanon. Confirming public comments
made by President Tarja Halonen, Torstila explained that the
GOF's annual PKO budget (roughly USD 100 million) has already
been appropriated for 2006 and largely committed for 2007;
therefore supporting Finland's UNIFIL contribution will
require a special authorization from Parliament. However,
the GOF is confident of Parliamentary approval and hopes the
troops could be made available no later than October.
2. (SBU) Torstila agreed with Ambassador that the
international community must now unite behind a second UNSC
resolution that authorizes UNIFIL to enforce the provisions
of UNSC Resolution 1559. Finland, which currently has
soldiers in Lebanon and recently lost an officer when an
Israeli airstrike hit a UNIFIL position, has no illusions
about the how difficult it will be to disarm Hezbollah.
Torstila underscored the need for the UN Security Council to
move quickly to give UNIFIL a very strong "peace enforcement"
mandate. Currently, he said, UNIFIL has "failed to do its
job" because of a "vague" mandate inadequate for the task at
hand.
3. (C) Finally, Torstila acknowledged that the larger EU
member states must demonstrate leadership by making
significant troop contributions to UNIFIL. Because of the
lead role France has taken (along with the US) at the UNSC --
as well as France's overall military capacity as compared to
other EU states -- the French "have to take a strong role."
However, he expressed some concern that the French have
suddenly become reluctant to share information with EU
partners regarding their potential UNIFIL role and
contributions. "Most of my information on French thinking
comes from newspaper reports," he noted with some
frustration. Germany's response thus far has also been
disappointing, and Torstila pointed to the Israeli Prime
Minister's personal efforts to assure Berlin that "historical
factors" between Germany and Israel are no issue and German
troops would be welcome. Although individual EU member
states will make their own national troop contributions to
UNIFIL (as opposed to EU troops under ESDP),the GOF is still
planning, in its EU Presidenc capacity, to discuss UNIFIL
troop contributionswith Germany, France, Italy and its
Nordic partnrs in the coming days.
WARE