Summary:

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is hopeful that repatriation of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan will happen more smoothly in the future. Finland and Afghanistan signed an agreement at the beginning of October that should make also forcible repatriation easier, but Mr Soini hopes that the majority of repatriations will be voluntary also in the future. The Finnish Immigration Service outlined earlier this year that the security situation in Afghanistan had improved. Mr Soini, who visited the country this week, says that Finland’s estimation is accurate but points out that the situation is monitored and the estimation can be updated if necessary. Finland supports the idea that the EU should sign an agreement with Afghanistan that tackles the root causes of migration, like the agreements signed with African nations.

Summary:

Finland is hosting an international summit on Syria at the beginning of next year. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen says that if the summit is a success it can be a major step forward. At the summit, new UN plans on aid for Syria will be published and it will also be possible to negotiate new arrangements for receiving and transferring refugees. Mr Mykkänen states as his personal opinion that Finland could accept more quota refugees in the future. He says the general trend in asylum policy in Europe should be turned in the direction of taking refugees directly from refugee camps and thus controlling illegal entry.

Summary:

The situation in Mosul was discussed in private conversations as the EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the situation in Syria. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is confident that Isis will be chased out of the city. Mr Soini estimates that a new wave of refugees is expected and emphasises that shelters should be built close to people’s home towns so that they would be safe in the area and could return home when the crises are over. The foreign ministers said in a statement that the Russian and Syrian bombings in Aleppo may be war crimes. Mr Soini is more careful with his words and describes the bombing of children, women and civilians as despicable and says that Russia holds the key to a solution.

Summary:

Finland’s foreign policy leadership states that Russia and the al-Assad regime carry the main responsibility for the escalation of the conflict and civilian suffering in Aleppo. Finland demands that parties immediately desists from military action, enable delivery of humanitarian aid and commit to advancing a political solution. In addition, suspected war crimes should be investigated and the perpetrators be brought to justice. According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini, thousands may die and Aleppo collapse in a month or two if there is no change to the situation.

Media:  Turun Sanomat

Date: 19.10.2016

Journalist: STT / Riku Roslund