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Finland will strengthen its contribution to UN peacekeeping operations

Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Publication date 29.9.2015 9.26
Press release 217/2015

Finland together with many other countries pledged new commitments to peacekeeping at the U.N. Peacekeeping Summit during the week of high-level meetings on 28 September. U.S. President Barack Obama chaired the Summit, which aimed at increasing contributions and at strengthening capabilities to the ever more challenging UN peacekeeping operations.

Finland's statement was held by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö. President Niinistö emphasised Finland's strong commitment to peacekeeping activities. Finland announced that its contribution of soldiers to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, will continue until the end of 2018. As the lead nation of the Finnish-Irish battalion in UNIFIL, Finland will continue to contribute 350 troops until the end of 2016, after which the contribution will be 170 troops in 2017–2018.

Finland will step up its participation in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, from the current five to 20 soldiers and add especially the number of military observers to the operation.  In addition, Finland announces that it will contribute a coastal jaeger unit, special task forces, and a special unit for NBC defence to the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System in 2017–2018.

Moreover, Finland aims to deploy 20 police experts in peacekeeping operations in 2016. In addition to these new announcements, Finland will continue its contribution to the UN Truce Supervision Organization, UNTSO, in the Middle East and the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, UNMOGIP, with a total of 25 military observers. Finland also strengthens its support to training and to the implementation of the UN Security Council's Women, Peace and Security resolution.

Finland's current participation makes it the sixth largest European contributor to UN peacekeeping and, in per capita terms, the second largest contributor after Ireland.

Finland is strongly involved in the ongoing development of peacekeeping in the UN. To this end, Finland is hosting a ministerial meeting on 29 September together with Uruguay, Rwanda and Indonesia.

The U.S. initiative managed to gather appreciable reinforcements to the UN peacekeeping activities. The participating countries pledged a total of more than 40,000 personnel for UN missions in addition to those already serving.  Besides infantry, for example the following pledges were made: 15 engineering companies, 10 field hospitals, helicopter and  air transport equipment, policemen and support to training. About 50 countries taking an active part in the UN peacekeeping activities had been invited to the Peacekeeping Summit.

Inquiries: Timo Kantola, Deputy Director General, Political Department, tel. +358 50 441 3872, Emmi Oikari, Counsellor, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, +358 50 585 2531

Remarks by President Obama at U.N. Peacekeeping Summit (in English)

 
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