President Halonen at the annual meeting of Heads of Mission: EU-NATO cooperation in crisis management should be developed

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen considers it important to develop cooperation between the EU and NATO in rapid-response crisis management. "Cooperation should be as smooth as possible in training, joint operations and the allocation of tasks. Non-NATO EU countries do not stand in the way of developing this cooperation," President Halonen said at the annual meeting of Heads of Mission, which was arranged by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki on Monday, 27 August 2007. According to President Halonen, Finland's possible participation in NATO Response Force (NRF) operations should be evaluated on the same grounds that apply to other international crisis management activities. "Participation in NRF operations must be compatible with foreign policy goals. Activities should also enhance our national defence capability. And of course we must not stretch our resources too thin," President Halonen noted.

President Halonen and Secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Pentti Torstila. Photo: Raino Heinonen/MFA

"A special challenge for NRF participation is that, unlike EU operations, we would not have a say in whether to start an actual operation. Making a political commitment to participate in this kind of activity is very difficult. With regard to NRF participation, as in other crisis management work, we will continue to cooperate closely with Sweden, but as always we will make our own decisions independently, according to our own starting points and interests."

President Halonen said that the need and demand for crisis management have grown steadily around the world, and the demand for Finns' participation is already greater than we can meet. Recently there has been discussion about participating in the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan and the UN-led operation in Darfur.

Finland has pledged to provide about 10 million euros a year for several years to support reconstruction in Afghanistan. "The nature of the operation has changed over time, but we are not reneging on this commitment. The entire international community should give a lot of thought to what is happening and how we can best support Afghanistan in the future," President Halonen said.

Attention was drawn to Darfur a year ago when Finland decided to send peacekeeping troops to Lebanon. "The objectives of the Darfur operation are in line with Finland's foreign policy goals. We consider the operation important. The African Union has said that it can take care of the military side mainly with the continent's own forces, but there is clearly a great need for other kinds of assistance. Finland's contribution will be decided together with the Government."

Valuable experience

According to President Halonen, Finland accumulated valuable experience of training and readiness for the EU's Rapid Reaction Force during the standby period that ended in July. At the beginning of next year Finland will again be on standby with Sweden, Norway, Estonia and Ireland. "The general assessment is that the start of an actual operation is more likely next year that it was this year. I believe that a year from now we will be much wiser and more knowledgeable about the usefulness of the crisis management concept and its development needs."

In her words to the Heads of Mission, President Halonen emphasized the need to coordinate civilian and military crisis management activities and objectives. In her view the significance of cooperation has been understood quite well in Finland, and this way of thinking is receiving more support around the world. "Developing cooperation is a complex matter that requires both sensitivity and an open mind. Armies are different and so are humanitarian organizations. Openness in operating principles and joint exercises before actual operations could help remove preconceived ideas and increase understanding among all crisis management actors, however."

President Halonen noted that Finns have earned a good reputation for coordinating military and civilian crisis management. "Our soldiers' activities have been peaceful, long-term and often aimed at helping civilians. Our humanitarian organizations have also been able to cooperate more flexibly than many others."

Finland and other countries should pay attention to increasing and developing skilled personnel resources and organizing work as efficiently as possible so that resources are not wasted by overlapping activities, President Halonen added.

Coherent foreign policy a strength

President Halonen reminded her audience that a broad consensus on foreign policy is a strength for a small country like Finland. "Different priorities and language are part of political activity. I think it is important, however, to have as broad a consensus as possible among the Government, the opposition and the President when it comes to significant changes."

President Halonen listed a number of foreign policy challenges in the near future, including the preparation of next year's Government report on Finnish Security and Defence Policy, the Intergovernmental Conference responsible for working out a new Treaty for the EU, the Finnish Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Finland's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council in 2013-2014.

Among the greatest challenges in the sphere of international security policy are climate change, the fight against contagious diseases and the elimination of poverty. "The future of the whole world and all its inhabitants depends on how well the global community can meet these challenges. We already have enough treaties and political commitments. What we need now is concrete measures. Everyone must act, including Finns," President Halonen emphasized.