Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HELSINKI115
2009-03-20 13:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
NATO KFOR MISSION: IN TOGETHER, OUT TOGETHER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHHE #0115 0791302 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201302Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4890 INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 1133 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN IMMEDIATE 0076 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV IMMEDIATE 0746 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT IMMEDIATE 0108 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 8675 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA IMMEDIATE 4685 RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN IMMEDIATE 0042 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0011 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0053 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0972
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000115
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO KPKO KV
SUBJECT: NATO KFOR MISSION: IN TOGETHER, OUT TOGETHER
REF: SECSTATE 26179
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael A. Butler, for
reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000115
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL NATO KPKO KV
SUBJECT: NATO KFOR MISSION: IN TOGETHER, OUT TOGETHER
REF: SECSTATE 26179
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael A. Butler, for
reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
¶1. (U) Charge' raised US concerns over possible European
withdrawal from KFOR during a March 19 meeting with MFA DG
for Americas/Asia Kalkku (REF). Although Kalkuu does not
have
direct responsibility for the issue, she is a European
Political-Military expert with considerable recent
experience in Balkan matters, including KFOR.
¶2. (C) According to Kalkku, Finland did not intend to
withdraw from KFOR. In fact, it was likely to extend its
leadership of the Multi-National Brigade Central (MNB-C)
for another year. It did intend, however, to reduce its
current KFOR commitment by approximately half, with
withdrawals taking place gradually throughout
this year. Charge reiterated that the US hoped that
Finland would make any decision on future force levels with
Kosovo,s security and political stability in mind.
¶3. (C) In a meeting on March 20, Timo Kantola, Director
of the MFA,s Unit for Security Policy, told PolChief that in
assuming the leadership of MNB-C the GOF had increased its
contingent from 400 to approximately 450. With no nation
volunteering to take over MNB-C leadership from Finland in
August, last December the GOF took the decision to continue
its leadership role for an indefinite period. They also
decided to decrease their contingent by approximately 200.
Kantola said the Finns have heard no criticism of their
decision to decrease in Kosovo, though he acknowledged some
criticism within EU circles regarding their decision to
withdraw most of their fifty-odd soldiers from Bosnia this
June. Kantola was vague about what Finland might do, as
it frees approximately 250 of the 1000 slots designated for
overseas operations. He pointed to the GOF,s decision to
increase in Chad, and the decision to add an additional 20
military trainers in Afghanistan.
BUTLER