Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HELSINKI44
2007-01-23 14:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
FINNISH RESPONSE - SURVEYING EU MEMBERS ON THEIR
how-toVZCZCXRO5735 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHHE #0044 0231408 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 231408Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2899 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0030 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0007 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0034
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000044
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO IR EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - SURVEYING EU MEMBERS ON THEIR
IRAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING
REF: SECSTATE 2659
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000044
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO IR EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - SURVEYING EU MEMBERS ON THEIR
IRAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING
REF: SECSTATE 2659
1. (U) PolChief discussed subject demarche Jan. 23 with MFA
Office Director for the Middle East Eija Rotinen. Rotinen
welcomed the information regarding the extensive democracy
and civil society outreach the US is engaging in to promote
civil rights, democracy and unbiased information in Iran.
She agreed that direct outreach to the Iranian people holds
the best hope for fostering incremental change in Iran,
despite the repressive nature of the regime.
2. (SBU) As for Finland's efforts in this area, she
admitted that they were not currently extensive. Internal
GOF discussions are taking place regarding the best
potential avenues for civil society and people-to-people
outreach, but Rotinen underscored how difficult it has been
for the GOF's tiny, 2-person mission in Tehran to engage
NGOs or civil society. In recent years Finland has funded
a handful of very small budget, one-time programs focused
on environmental issues (she mentioned habitat and species
protection) and seminars. Outreach to Iranian NGOs has
been a focus of Finnish efforts, and given the nature of
the regime the GOF views environmental NGOs as the least
controversial way of opening conversations with civil
society (although even this, Rotinen said, has not been
without problems). Rotinen also reported that the EU is
engaged in "continuous conversations" about how to engage
Iranian civil society, and that Finland will continue to
participate as these conversations intensify.
WARE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO IR EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - SURVEYING EU MEMBERS ON THEIR
IRAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING
REF: SECSTATE 2659
1. (U) PolChief discussed subject demarche Jan. 23 with MFA
Office Director for the Middle East Eija Rotinen. Rotinen
welcomed the information regarding the extensive democracy
and civil society outreach the US is engaging in to promote
civil rights, democracy and unbiased information in Iran.
She agreed that direct outreach to the Iranian people holds
the best hope for fostering incremental change in Iran,
despite the repressive nature of the regime.
2. (SBU) As for Finland's efforts in this area, she
admitted that they were not currently extensive. Internal
GOF discussions are taking place regarding the best
potential avenues for civil society and people-to-people
outreach, but Rotinen underscored how difficult it has been
for the GOF's tiny, 2-person mission in Tehran to engage
NGOs or civil society. In recent years Finland has funded
a handful of very small budget, one-time programs focused
on environmental issues (she mentioned habitat and species
protection) and seminars. Outreach to Iranian NGOs has
been a focus of Finnish efforts, and given the nature of
the regime the GOF views environmental NGOs as the least
controversial way of opening conversations with civil
society (although even this, Rotinen said, has not been
without problems). Rotinen also reported that the EU is
engaged in "continuous conversations" about how to engage
Iranian civil society, and that Finland will continue to
participate as these conversations intensify.
WARE