JiiVee
04-09-2010, 10:07 AM
Comments by President Karzai raise concern in Finnish Parliament
Finland is raising its readiness level in Afghanistan from 145 soldiers to 195.
Finland currently has 125 soldiers in the NATO-led ISAF force in Afghanistan.
In debate in Parliament on the government’s Afghanistan report, Finnish MPs commented on recent strained relations between the United States and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai.
Karzai has raised consternation in the west recently by accusing international election observers of electoral fraud, and spoken in positive tones about the Taleban resistance.
“Relations between the United States and Karzai are weaker than ever. The coalition is weakening, and the weakest link is the United States.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) says that Karzai’s statements have been seen at the Finnish Foreign Ministry to be a “backboard” that he has used for reasons of domestic policy.
Stubb promised that the Foreign Ministry would draw up a further report on the development of the northern region of Afghanistan before Parliament takes its summer break.
The other main concern in Thursday’s debate was if it would be possible to reduce the presence of ISAF forces in Afghanistan in such a way that responsibility for the national reconciliation process could be put in the hands of Afghanistan on schedule.
Opposing an increase in the forces were the Left Alliance, the Christian Democrats, and the True Finns, who were especially critical of the idea of increasing the presence at a time when even the supporters of the additional deployment admit that a military solution to the crisis in Afghanistan cannot be achieved.
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament, Pertti Salolainen (Nat. Coalition Party) noted that the situation in Afghanistan has been difficult ever since 2002.
Some hope has been seen in the gradual transfer of responsibility from the most peaceful provinces of Afghanistan, which is scheduled for the end of this year and early next year, Salolainen noted.
“We don’t want to be there a day more than we have to, and as soon as we can, we will leave.”
The opposition Social Democrats want the government to commit itself to the international withdrawal plan within the time frame of 3-5 years.
“At the end of 2011 there is reason to reassess the whole military presence in Afghanistan”, says Krista Kiuru of the Social Democrats.
Left Alliance MP Esko-Juhani Tennilä questioned the logic of the government’s idea that a military buildup is needed before a withdrawal.
“Finnish leaders seem to have a great need to please American leaders. I cannot think of any other explanation for the increase in forces.”
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finland+to+deploy+50+more+peacekeepers+in+Afghanis tan/1135255973913
Finland is raising its readiness level in Afghanistan from 145 soldiers to 195.
Finland currently has 125 soldiers in the NATO-led ISAF force in Afghanistan.
In debate in Parliament on the government’s Afghanistan report, Finnish MPs commented on recent strained relations between the United States and Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai.
Karzai has raised consternation in the west recently by accusing international election observers of electoral fraud, and spoken in positive tones about the Taleban resistance.
“Relations between the United States and Karzai are weaker than ever. The coalition is weakening, and the weakest link is the United States.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) says that Karzai’s statements have been seen at the Finnish Foreign Ministry to be a “backboard” that he has used for reasons of domestic policy.
Stubb promised that the Foreign Ministry would draw up a further report on the development of the northern region of Afghanistan before Parliament takes its summer break.
The other main concern in Thursday’s debate was if it would be possible to reduce the presence of ISAF forces in Afghanistan in such a way that responsibility for the national reconciliation process could be put in the hands of Afghanistan on schedule.
Opposing an increase in the forces were the Left Alliance, the Christian Democrats, and the True Finns, who were especially critical of the idea of increasing the presence at a time when even the supporters of the additional deployment admit that a military solution to the crisis in Afghanistan cannot be achieved.
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament, Pertti Salolainen (Nat. Coalition Party) noted that the situation in Afghanistan has been difficult ever since 2002.
Some hope has been seen in the gradual transfer of responsibility from the most peaceful provinces of Afghanistan, which is scheduled for the end of this year and early next year, Salolainen noted.
“We don’t want to be there a day more than we have to, and as soon as we can, we will leave.”
The opposition Social Democrats want the government to commit itself to the international withdrawal plan within the time frame of 3-5 years.
“At the end of 2011 there is reason to reassess the whole military presence in Afghanistan”, says Krista Kiuru of the Social Democrats.
Left Alliance MP Esko-Juhani Tennilä questioned the logic of the government’s idea that a military buildup is needed before a withdrawal.
“Finnish leaders seem to have a great need to please American leaders. I cannot think of any other explanation for the increase in forces.”
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finland+to+deploy+50+more+peacekeepers+in+Afghanis tan/1135255973913