SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO FINLAND,

S E C R E T HELSINKI 000541 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2018 TAGS: FI MARR PGOV PREL SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO FINLAND, DEC 4, 2008 REF: HELSINKI 431 Classified By: Ambassador Barbara Barrett for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. You will arrive in Finland as the Finns enjoy considerable international acclaim for their efforts in international crisis management, not only as a result of their effective Chairmanship of the OSCE, but also for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to former President Martti Ahtisaari. While Finns are proud of their participation in peacekeeping operations, and the Government is committed to its comprehensive civilian-military approach to international crisis management, there remain divisions within the government on how to pursue its policies, in particular in relation to Afghanistan. With the government currently reviewing its crisis management, development and Afghanistan policies, your visit provides an opportunity not only to thank Finnish leaders for the important role they have played within the OSCE, but also (1) to encourage Finland to continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and security through Euro-Atlantic and other international institutions; (2) to contribute more military and development assistance to Afghanistan; (3) and to urge Finnish leaders to publicly support a common U.S.-EU policy on Russia. END SUMMARY. Political Overview -------------- ¶2. (SBU) As the head of the Finnish Government, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and his cabinet share responsibility for the implementation of Finnish foreign policy with President Tarja Halonen. Vanhanen leads a center-right governing coalition that has placed high importance not only on working through the EU, but also on improving Finland,s partnership with NATO and its overall relationship with the United States. We share with the GOF the view that creating global economic wealth and defeating terrorism require Western nations to engage in international security operations and use diplomacy to promote democratic values beyond the borders of Europe and North America. Comprehensive approach to crisis management -------------- ¶3. (U) Finnish participation in international peacekeeping operations dates back to the Sinai in the 1950s. As former President Martti Ahtisaari has stated, the Finns are internationally well-regarded because of their longstanding participation in operations and their reputation as "honest brokers and fair dealers." Ahtisaari,s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize and widespread praise for the Finns, Chairmanship of the OSCE support his assertion (OSCE scenesetter septel). ¶4. (C) The Finns describe their approach to international crisis management as comprehensive, seeking to utilize all resources - civilian and military, public and private - to best advantage. On the military side, the GOF aims to maintain its international military presence at approximately 680 troops. Its key operations are KFOR (approximately 440), ISAF (100) and Chad (61). With the expected scaledown of troops in Kosovo next year, the GOF has stated publicly it will consider an increase to operations in Chad and Afghanistan (though in meetings GOF officials say an increase to the Chad contribution is more likely). The GOF estimates that its civilian participation will reach 150. Approximately 60 xperts have been deployed to EULEX Kosovo, and 2 police experts are expected to participate in EUPOL in Afghanistan by early 2009. No unanimity on the comprehensive approach -------------- ¶5. (C) As the GOF pursues this approach, it still grapples with how to realize it fully, and within the government and the Parliament there is no unanimity. This in part results from long-held attitudes. For example, the vast majority of Finnish military resources are devoted to territorial defense, with only a relatively small amount for crisis management operations; this flows from the deeply-entrenched notion that in war the Finns, always have stood alone. Also, development policy has not been coordinated with crisis management policy, a separation due in part from the idea held by some in the government that security operations necessarily precede delivery of development assistance. The GOF has undertaken reviews of its international crisis management and development policies, as well as Afghanistan policy (see below),with the results to be presented to Parliament in early 2009. Afghanistan: policy deadlock -------------- ¶6. (C) Afghanistan presents the Finns the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of their approach, and the GOF has contributed comprehensively, through military and civilian personnel and development assistance (approximately 12 million euros per year over the next six years). While no one within the GOF is advocating a troop or assistance reduction, there are clear divisions in Vanhanen,s cabinet: One side advocates doing more (mainly within the Conservative party, Foreign Minister Stubb and Defense Minister Hakamies), and the other believes Finland is doing enough and that budgetary realities do not permit troop or aid increases. Vanhanen,s Center Party is part of the latter group, though Vanhanen himself may favor doing more. At the NATO Summit in Bucharest last April, President Halonen spoke about continuation of Finland,s engagement through ISAF, and made a broad reference to Finland increasing "her contribution in Afghanistan." However, Halonen has not offered the Finnish public a strong voice supporting Finland,s contributions to Afghanistan. Halonen is part of the camp that believes Finland is already doing enough. We do not agree. GOF responds to conflict in Georgia -------------- ¶7. (C) Russia is Finland,s largest bilateral trading partner and its primary energy supplier, and Finns are proud of the way they have managed their relations with Russia through the Cold War and up to the present day. That management typically involves careful public statements by government officials calculated not to provoke. Both PM Vanhanen and President Halonen employed such tactics as the recent conflict in Georgia unfolded, referring to the events as "highly unusual" and "unsettling phenomena"; neither offered explicit condemnation. Stubb, who has argued for a more assertive foreign policy that abandons bland and ritualistic statements from officials, condemned the Russian incursion, albeit as OSCE Chairman. ¶8. (SBU) The GOF has strongly supported both the OSCE,s and the EU,s role in responding to the crisis in Georgia. Vahanen was an early opponent of any economic sanctions against Russia. The GOF supported the decision to undertake negotiations on a new partnership and cooperation agreement, saying that such negotiations would provide future leverage. (NOTE: Halonen has ruled out NATO membership for Finland during her tenure, which ends in 2012. The Georgia conflict sparked debate about Finland,s relationship with NATO, and Vanhanen reiterated the GOF policy to maintain the "option" of membership. Stubb publicly holds to the GOF policy, but acknowledged his own support for membership in a speech to Finnish diplomats last August. A poll in September showed an increase in the number of Finns uncertain about Finland,s possible NATO membership, an increase that drew from both from supporters and opponents. END NOTE.) Finland seeks JASSM -------------- ¶9. (S) Embassy Helsinki wholly endorses Finland's request for release and eventual Foreign Military Sale purchase of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) System. They deem such a system vital to their strategic national defense, as JASSM provides the Finnish military the means to defeat advanced air defense networks that would otherwise preclude the Finns' use of their own airspace to defend their border. We base our strong support on Finland's clearly articulate national defense needs, the war-fighting support requirements stipulated by Commander, U.S. European Command, General Bantz Craddock, and the importance of continuing the excellent relationship between the U.S. and Finland (REF). Finnish leaders have raised JASSM previously with you, as well as with Vice President Cheney and Secretary Gates. The Pentagon intends to respond before the Finns, stated deadline, the end of this year. Pharmaceutical Pricing -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The Finns tout their "international credentials," but those credentials suffered a setback in November when the Parliament approved a GOF proposal to amend a pharmaceutical pricing scheme in order to allow the substitution of lower priced generics for patent-protected drugs. The Health Minister proposed the change as a cost-cutting device but reimbursing only at generic drug prices undermines the patent rights of a number of protected medicines, including those of U.S. manufacturers. The Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Economy saw the potential damage to Finland,s reputation and lobbied against the measure, although parliament passed the bill unanimously in November. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) As the Finns end their much-lauded OSCE chairmanship, they look to other opportunities to act internationally and employ their brand of crisis management, e.g., a seat on the UN Security Council (2013-14). The Finns offer a pragmatic voice and active presence that should not be lost. By encouraging the Finns, robust internationalism and supporting strong trans-Atlantic ties we can advance our common interests in combining civilian and military tools to address global security challenges. END COMMENT. BARRETT