Speaking on Yle’s Saturday morning TV show, Tuomioja said that a strong peacekeeping operation will be needed in Syria once the civil war there ends. The Social Democratic minister revealed that the United Nations had already made queries regarding the matter, and that preparations were underway for a peacekeeping and crisis control operation in Syria.
Tuomioja had also discussed the matter with other Nordic ministers.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs said it would be very difficult to turn down a request for help. With a strong track record in the Middle East and Suez, as well as in Lebanon, Finland was a trusted peacekeeping partner, Tuomioja explained.
He could not enumerate the size of the troops that might be sent to Syria. However, apparently there have been preliminary talks of an international force of 3000 peacekeepers and crisis control personnel. In Tuomioja’s view, the number is small given the war crimes that have taken place in Syria.
Finland’s Foreign Minister says much is being done in the UN to bring peace to Syria. In Tuomioja’s estimation, the war will only end once President Bashar al Assad leaves. Even after this the situation will remain difficult, as the future of the country will be in the hands of those with arms, Tuomioja surmises.
