UPDATE ON FINNISH EU PRESIDENCY ACTIONS IN SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000830

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2014
TAGS: MOPS PREL PGOV FI
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON FINNISH EU PRESIDENCY ACTIONS IN SUPPORT
OF UNIFIL

REF: HELSINKI 798

Classified By: PolChief Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) MFA Unit for Security Policy Director Kimmo Lahdevirta
offered an update on the Finnish Presidency's recent efforts
to urge EU member states to make troop contributions to
UNIFIL.


2. (C) While signals out of Paris continue to be mixed, it
now appears clear that the French intend to contribute only
400 troops to UNIFIL (i.e., 200 additional troops to
supplement the 200 already on the ground),Lahdevirta said;
France will also put its 1700 Marines in the region "on
standby" for deployment to Lebanon, but only if necessary.
The Finnish Presidency is disappointed with this response and
has urged France to reconsider. As previewed reftel, Finnish
FM Erkki Tuomioja telephoned French FM Philippe Douste-Blazy
Aug. 18 to press France to lead the mission and to increase
its troop strength, but apparently to no avail. Douste-Blazy
was non-committal in his conversation with Tuomioja,
Lahdevirta reported, suggesting only that the disappointing
French response stemmed in part from France's strained
relationships with Syria and with pro-Syria factions in
Lebanon. Oddly, he added, Douste-Blazy hinted that Paris
still might make a better showing if a second UNSC resolution
is adopted, although in the short to medium term this does
not appear likely. Lahdevirta also surmised, as a personal
aside, again oddly, that perhaps the French would have been
more forthcoming if the mission were EU-hatted as opposed to
UN-hatted.)


3. (C) Meanwhile, Finnish Presidency conversations with other
member states have also yielded few firm commitments.
Germany, with whom the GOF held talks last week, has not
moved very far from its reticent stance, although the door
remains open to many possible options, including police
and/or maritime support, Lahdevirta said. Finnish efforts to
press for a combined Nordic force have fallen flat. Denmark
and Norway may make important contributions of naval assets,
but they and Sweden in particular have expressed little
interest in providing ground forces -- leaving Finland in
search of other partners to whom it can attach what it
expects to be a 200 to 260 man force. Finland will chair an
extraordinary PSC meeting Aug. 23 in Brussels where "the goal
is to pressure those who have not committed forces to make
commitments," Lahdevirta said. With the French backpedaling,
Lahdevirta welcomed the concept of a "three-pillar strategy"
as a best second option. He said that EU sources continue to
indicate that Italy may take on a leadership role and that --
in conjunction with Turkey and a third partner -- could
provide the necessary leadership and a significant framework
troop contribution. However, much will depend on what Italy
offers at the COPS meeting Aug. 23.


4. (C) Comment: Finland continues to make good faith efforts
in showing leadership and urging other EU members to make
robust contributions to UNIFIL -- including its own
contribution of an "enhanced company," which for a country of
this size is significant given the GOF's many other PKO
commitments worldwide. However, the current lack of a major
commitment from a major EU power highlights the limited role
a small country Presidency can play. End Comment.
HYATT