The Paris terrorist attacks, Syria and Ukraine and Finland's participation in crisis management discussed by President of the Republic and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy

On Friday 20 November, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the request for aid and assistance submitted by France following the terrorist attacks in Paris. Finland responds to the request submitted by France and supports the implementation of the mutual assistance clause of the Treaty of the European Union both politically and in concrete terms. Finland will discuss the measures with France. Finland's contribution could mean stepping up support in Erbil, northern Iraq, and in the military crisis management operations in Mali and the Mediterranean. Efforts will be made to swiftly finalise the drafting of legislation on granting and receiving international assistance.

The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy also discussed the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Finland welcomes the agreement on the main elements of the political process for ending the Syrian conflict, reached by the members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in Vienna on 14 November. Increased violations of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine in the past days are alarming. Finland considers that the OSCE observers must be granted full access to the region. A rapid solution should be found for organizing the elections in the separatist areas, in line with the Minsk agreement.

The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy outlined that Finland will continue to contribute strong and diverse input to international crisis management, rapid reaction troops and international training and exercises. The meeting set out guidelines for Finland's continued contribution to the NATO Resolute Support Mission (RSM) in Afghanistan and the UNIFIL operation in Lebanon.

Inquiries: Timo Kantola, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 295 351 477,  Jarno Syrjälä, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 300 (Syria), Vesa Vasara, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 295 351 723 (Ukraine and Russia), Ministry for Foreign Affairs; and Helena Partanen, Director of Unit, tel. +358 295 140 310, Ministry of Defence