President of the Republic and Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed crisis management and training cooperation in Iraq

On Monday 26 January, the meeting of the President of the Republic and Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed further work with regard to the report by a working group examining the need for legislative changes due to crisis management and other forms of international cooperation. The Committee outlined that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will appoint an intersectoral working group for the preparation of a separate statute based on the report submitted on 4.11.2014.

The meeting also discussed Finland's possible participation in international training cooperation in Iraq. Assessment has been initiated to that end and the matter will be presented for consideration at a meeting of the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy later on.

The Committee has also received an update it requested on the possibilities concerning exercises the United States is offering to Finland and Sweden with the U.S. Air Force detachment in Estonia. Finland will examine its possibilities to participate based on its own training needs.

Inquiries: Päivi Kaukoranta, Director General of the Legal Service, tel. + 358 295 351 144, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (working group report); Helena Partanen, Director of Unit, tel. +358 295 140 310, Ministry of Defence (Iraq, air force exercise), Kirsti Kauppi, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 561, Ministry for Foreign Affairs