

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09HELSINKI360, FINNISH COMMITMENT TO AFGHANISTAN WEATHERS
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09HELSINKI360.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09HELSINKI360 | 2009-10-01 07:07 | 2011-04-24 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Helsinki |
VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHHE #0360/01 2740712
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010712Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5189
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0098
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 8677
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0977
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000360
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2019
TAGS: AF FI MOPS PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: FINNISH COMMITMENT TO AFGHANISTAN WEATHERS
FIREFIGHTS IN MAZAR-E-SHARIF AND SNIPING IN HELSINKI
Classified By: Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck For Reasons 1.4B and D
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOF has been a partner in Afghanistan
with boots on the ground since 2002, and its political
leaders, with few exceptions, continue to demonstrate their
commitment to the mission both publicly and privately.
However, having suffered only one fatality so far, Finland's
political consensus has not yet been seriously tested. A
series of firefights involving Finnish ISAF troops deployed
in Mazar-e-Sharif starting in July and peaking in late August
caused some debate as some commentators, some members of
parliament, and a retired general have argued that Finland is
now at war rather than taking part in a peacekeeping mission.
The government and President responded by denying that they
have led the nation to war and affirming its commitment of
troops and civilian personnel to Afghanistan. Minister
Vayrynen was the sole dissenting voice in government, though
he urged only the withdrawal of Finnish soldiers, not
civilian personnel. The disturbing reports of fraud in
Afghanistan's presidential election and continuing concerns
over corruption and human rights there present an unfavorable
backdrop as parliament holds an open debate on Afghanistan on
October 1. That said, post assesses that the GOF would
entertain requests for more contributions to Afghanistan that
did not involve additional military boots on the ground. END
SUMMARY.
------------------------------------------
LESS PEACE, MORE FIGHTING FOR FINNS
------------------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) In July and August, media in Finland reported on the
increasingly difficult security environment around
Mazar-e-Sharif, the base of operations for Finnish ISAF
forces (always referred to here as "peacekeepers") which are
co-located with the Swedish-led PRT. According to the media,
Finnish patrols were exchanging fire with insurgents up to
several times a week, a marked increase which might have been
related to more energetic ISAF activity in the run-up to the
presidential poll as well as a more active Taliban presence
in the north. Some of the attacks also involved IEDs.
Neither the Swedes nor the Finns suffered casualties in these
engagements though they reported killing or wounding several
unidentified attackers. The Finnish ISAF commander indicated
publicly that he didn't believe that the attacks would stop
his troops from continuing their patrols. Recruiting of
volunteers to deploy has also apparently continued without
missing a beat. A survey conducted by the Finnish Officers'
Union concluded that troops heading to Afghanistan were doing
so with high morale, though concerns were raised about the
sufficiency of benefits.
---------------------
WAR BY ANY OTHER NAME
---------------------
¶3. (SBU) Some voices in the Finnish media and commentariat
reacted to the increasing violence in Mazar-e-Sharif, and
Afghanistan in general, by questioning whether Finland might
actually be involved in a war rather than the peacekeeping
and reconstruction mission which they originally signed onto
in 2002. In late July a commentator in the weekly Suomen
Kuvalehti argued that it was "tragicomic that the usage of
the term war has not been discussed in Finland any sooner . .
. Apparently Finland's political leaders need a few body bags
before they're willing to face the facts." One of the
sharpest critiques was penned by Finnish Institute of
International Affairs researcher Charly Salonius-Pasternak,
who wrote in Helsingin Sanomat in late July that "(T)hough
Finnish soldiers don't participate in offensive operations,
from the viewpoint of the opponent and international law they
are clearly a party to the conflict."
¶4. (SBU) A retired commander of the Finnish Defense Forces
(1994-2001), General Gustav Hagglund, bluntly asked in the
pages of the daily Aamulehti in mid-September "what does it
matter to us if the Taliban are in charge (in Afghanistan) or
not?". He continued: "We don't belong in battles in which
you have to attack and kill people. . . . To the Americans
the war on terror is motivation to be there, but I don't
understand what we Europeans are doing there." Notably,
though, even General Hagglund did not call for a unilateral
withdrawal of Finnish troops, instead urging that Finland
work towards a general withdrawal of all international
forces. Hagglund's comments drew both support and ridicule,
some of which reminded Finns just what kind of regime the
Taliban were when they were in power.
¶5. (SBU) Foreign Minister Stubb and Defense Minister Hakamies
forcefully denied claims that Finland was at war, reinforcing
the government's line that Finland was participating in a UN
operation, though an especially tough one. In a mid-August
interview on Finnish public broadcaster YLE, Stubb described
the mission in Afghanistan "as one of difficult crisis
management work, in which Finnish soldiers are working to
return peace and stability to Afghanistan working under a UN
mandate." Hakamies defensively shot back at critics that "a
statement that Finland is at war and that decision-makers are
unaware of it is baseless."
----------------------------------------
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT JOIN PUBLIC DEBATE
----------------------------------------
¶6. (SBU) Some members of parliament joined the sniping at the
government's line during the August spike in violence. At
the extreme end, Left Alliance MP Jaakko Laakso, a member of
the Defense Committee, compared Finnish help to the U.S. to
its efforts to please the Nazis during World War II. Social
Democratic (SDP) MP Eero Heinaluoma from the Foreign Affairs
Committee called for a political solution, including
negotiations with moderate Taliban, rather than relying on
military means. However, the debate has not broken down
strictly along party lines. SDP leader Jutta Urpilainen
voiced support for Finland's participation in ISAF, "which
has a UN mandate and is supported by the international
community."
¶7. (C) Even governing coalition MPs sounded more circumspect.
Center Party MP Markku Laukkanen, vice-chair of the Foreign
Affairs Committee and leader of the Finnish-American Caucus,
declared the ISAF operation to be in crisis and called for
post-Afghan election consultations among ISAF contributors to
find an exit strategy. However, in a private meeting with
the Ambassador, he confidently stated that Finnish troops
would remain and that Finland would be prepared to provide
even more help, though preferably in civilian form. Center
Party MP Juha Koreaoja, chair of the Defense Committee,
emphasized Finland's tradition of taking on international
responsibility and declared that it would never be the first
to withdraw from a crisis situation, but he also made clear
that Finland's election surge of about 100 extra troops
should return home when the election was concluded and that
any extra effort should take the form of civilian assistance.
¶8. (SBU) President Halonen and Prime Minister Vanhanen, not
always of the same viewpoint on policy issues, have also
publicly closed ranks behind Finland's commitment in
Afghanistan. Halonen publicly rejected the idea of reducing
the number of Finnish peacekeepers and the idea that Finland
was in a war, while Vanhanen emphasized that the government
had weighed the risks before sending troops: "There is a
possibility of the situation worsening before the election.
That is exactly why more troops were needed."
¶9. (SBU) The sole exception from within the government has
been Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Vayrynen, who
publicly called for the withdrawal of Finnish troops,
although even he called for Finland to maintain its civilian
development assistance in Afghanistan. Former President and
Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari cut through the war of words
about whether Finland was at war, clearly pointing out the
necessity of staying the course: "Afghanistan faces a
situation where much of the country is ruled by groups that
use terrorism as a weapon, fund their operations with the
drug trade and favor widespread crime." He also reminded
Finns that the world is watching them especially closely as
they seek a rotating seat on the UN Security Council in 2013.
¶10. (SBU) Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees
will debate Afghanistan policy later this month, and there
will be a rare open plenary session on Afghanistan October
¶1. The last open debate on foreign policy was over a year
ago following the Russian attack on Georgia. There is no
decision regarding Afghanistan before the Parliament, but the
debate will be an indicator of how strong the government
backbenchers support Finland's current commitments.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶11. (C) A strategy for Afghanistan that shows a path leading
to Afghanis taking responsibility for their own security is
what Finnish leaders would most like to see after seven years
with Finnish troops and civilians deployed there. We assess
that the Finnish government is strongly committed to staying
the course in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future,
although it would be politically difficult to deploy
additional troops or for the current election surge force to
remain after the election. However, requests for additional
forms of civilian support (for example, more police trainers)
or more military assistance that does not involve more
Finnish boots on the ground (such as training for OMLTs as
well as Afghan personnel in Finland, projects which are
already ongoing or planned) would certainly be considered.
Such requests will be more palatable to them if they can be
framed as part of a transition to the Afghan government
taking more responsibility and as part of a team effort in
which other European partners are also contributing more.
ORECK