President of the Republic and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discuss situation in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East

On Tuesday 7 January 2020, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the tense situation in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East.

The President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy stated that all parties should avoid violence and actions that could lead to further escalation of the situation. The international community, especially the EU, must act to ease the situation.

The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the effects of the escalating situation on Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), an operation of the International Coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, in which Finland participates. In addition, Finland participates in the civilian crisis management operation EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) and has one person working on the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) operation.

Inquiries: Mikko Kinnunen, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 820, Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 977, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Helena Partanen, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 295 140 310, Ministry of Defence