Stubb Apologises for Afghan Information Mix-up
Alexander Stubb
Image: YLE
Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb says he is partly responsible for not keeping President Tarja Halonen adequately informed over the timetable of withdrawing Finnish peacekeepers from Afghanistan. In an interview given to the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Stubb also apologized to Finnish peacekeepers for the mix-up.
He apologized for the fact that Finnish peacekeepers in Afghanistan had to face uncertainty owing to the breakdown of communication between political leaders. Even worse, he emphasized, was criticism made of the professional skills of Finnish forces.
Confusion over the homecoming of Finnish peacekeepers started when President Halonen announced during a visit to Egypt that she thought the troops would stay on in Afghanistan for the second round of that country’s presidential election in November.
Finland’s 86 peacekeepers sent to help provide security during the elections will, however, return home on October, 28th.
Last Tuesday, Halonen said the issue had wider implications than just a breakdown in communications.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, interviewed on Saturday on an MTV3 news programme, promised an explanation on the communications breakdown would be given to parliament. Prior to this, the matter would be discussed among Finland’s foreign policy leaders.
YLE