GOF CONSIDERING MODEST INCREASES IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000021 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM AARON COPE, S/SRAP, AND SCA/A E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2020 TAGS: AF FI MOPS PREL SUBJECT: GOF CONSIDERING MODEST INCREASES IN AFGHANISTAN EFFORTS REF: SECSTATE 4108 Classified By: CDA MICHAEL BUTLER, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) (C) Charg raised reftel points on January 15 with Finnish Special Envoy for Afghanistan Elina Kalkku. Kalkku related that she had met earlier in the day with the UK AMB and that the GOF was in complete agreement regarding underlining the difference between province-by-province transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces and the completion of ISAF's mission. She thought it would be important for the distinction to be made in the written conclusions of the London Conference and she undertook to spread the message in the Finnish media post-London. (C) Moving on to Finland's contributions in Afghanistan, Kalkku predicted that the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, to meet January 22, would approve increases in military, civilian, and financial contributions. While "not everything we wanted", this would be a "better than expected" result. NOTE: Post understands that in a January 12 luncheon for EU Chiefs of Mission FM Stubb stated his own desire for across the board increases in Finnish contributions in Afghanistan, including military, diplomatic, and development involvement. END NOTE. Kalkku also revealed that the MFA was planning to double the size of its embassy in Kabul (we understand there are about three diplomats there now who focus on development),feeling the need for more political and military reporting. Kalkku and Security Policy and Crisis Management Unit Director Timo Kantola will conduct a backgrounder with Finnish press on Monday afternoon but will not be making any new announcements. BUTLER