Remarks
by Mr. Jaakko
Blomberg, Under-Secretary of State,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland
Allow me first to thank Mr. Wolfgang Petritsch, High Representative for
Bosnia- Hertzegovina for his presentation.
It is significant that Mr. Petritsch is in a position to report some
positive development trends in Bosnia-Hertzegovina five years after Dayton.
The dramatic events following the Yugoslav elections this fall and the
entry of a democratic government in Belgrade with overwhelming popular
support give rise to hope and expectations for a permanent change to the
better for the Balkans.
We hope that the Serb elections on 23.12. will consolidate this positive
trend.
We have also noted with satisfaction that a democratic Belgrade and NATO
are now able to find common ground to contain and cap extremist violence
in the Presevo Valley. These can be first steps towards normalisation,
although a determined presence of both SFOR and KFOR will be needed in
the foreseeable future.
Finland is a troop contributor to both NATO-led operations in the Balkans
- KFOR and SFOR. We remain committed to international efforts towards
peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Following the EU Nice Summit and the two NATO ministerials we face an
important and busy period to move forward the EU - NATO cooperative agenda.
The issues are well known.
Finland considers the transatlantic link embodied in NATO essential for
the security of Europe.
What is now needed is practical wisdom to forge a good working relationship
between the EU and NATO. That cooperative relationship is a prerequisite,
for future regional security in the Euro-Atlantic area. It should be pragmatic,
non-duplicating and effective. It should include broad availability and
wide use by the EU of NATO assets and capabilities including force planning.
Not being a member of NATO, Finland has here special interests to defend.
For us to be fully able to contribute and to participate in future EU
crisis management operations, with or without NATO assets and capabilities,
it is essential that we have access to NATO structures to the extent work
is done in NATO for the benefit of the EU.
Finland continues to give high priority to her relationship with NATO
through the EAPC and the Partnership for Peace. We value the extensive
work done in the EAPC and the PfP. I wish to underline the importance
of the co-operation between NATO and the Russian Federation in the PJC
framework as a building block of the Euro-Atlantic security structure.
The operations in the Balkans are the most visible expression of Finland's
commitment to EAPC and the Partnership for Peace. It is particularly important
for us that the Alliance implements the Politico-Military Framework for
NATO-led PfP operations in an open-minded and dynamic way. We are satisfied
that work on the next review of the implementation of the Political-Military
Framework has started.
An unsolved issue in this context is the completion of a status of forces
agreement concerning non-NATO KFOR forces between NATO and Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. It is important for the lines of communication
to the Finnish forces in KFOR. It is an issue that must be solved urgently
to place our forces in the field on equal footing with NATO troops.
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