FINLAND CONSIDERS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000447 SIPDIS NSC FOR J.HOVENIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2019 TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR AF FI SUBJECT: FINLAND CONSIDERS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN REF: A. SECSTATE 120807 ¶B. 2009 HELSINKI 441 Classified By: PolEcon Chief Scott Brandon for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) On November 25 Ambassador raised REF A points with MFA State Secretary Pertti Torstila. Torstila said the government would not make any statements regarding possible expanded participation in Afghanistan until after the President formally announces the policy. ¶2. (C) The same day Pol/Econ Chief also delivered demarche points to Anu Laamanen, the MFA's Deputy Director General of the Political Unit. Laamanen welcomed the imminent formal announcement of the Afghanistan-Pakistan policy, noting how closely and cooperatively the U.S. and Finland have worked together in the northern region. She indicated that she was not in a position to speak about possible additional contributions, pointing out that the government already had an outstanding request for additional troops from the NATO Secretary General that they had yet to discuss. She added that the Finns need to consult with the Swedes and the Germans about the situation in the north before they arrive at a decision. Signaling the difficulty Finland faces, Laamanen said that increasing contributions to Trust Funds are far more achievable than getting additional people on the ground. (NOTE: Previously, the MFA's Security Policy Unit head cast doubt on media reports raising the possibility of a doubling of troops to 200 in 2011, but said that Finland might increase police trainers from 24 to 30 (REF B). This might point to a lack of interagency coordination, as the MoD is undertaking a review of its PRT contributions (see below). END NOTE) ¶3. (C) During a November 30 conversation with Deputy Defense Minister Rimpi and MoD Policy Director Jarvenpaa, DCM reviewed our need for greater Finnish participation in Afghnistan. The Mod officials noted that President Halonen had received a request for troops from NATO SecGen Rasmussen the week before. Rimpi and Jarvenpaa were open to the troop requests, while describing practical difficulties the GoF had in filling both their PRT and OMLT positions. According to Jarvenpaa, the GoF was currently trying to fill 25 empty PRT billets, and were also having trouble identifying reserve or recently-retired field-grade officers to advise Afghan units in OMLTs. Jarvenpaa added that the MoD was undertaking a policy-level review of the role of the Swedish/Finnish PRT, and predicted that Finland would adjust its presence to conform with a more civilian orientation. They warned, however, that the issue would have to work its way through the parliament's 2010 budget process, leaving any effective changes until 2011. ORECK