Finland not able to support France with military assistance: Finnish president
Xinhua, November 18, 2015 Adjust font size:
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Tuesday said his country was ready to support France in every possible way, barring military assistance.
"Of course, we will make every effort to support France," Niinisto told a press conference related to the Paris attacks that killed 129 people last Friday and the security of the European Union (EU) held on Tuesday.
He said Finland was ready to show solidarity with France in accordance with EU treaties, adding that Finland had already cooperated with France, particularly in the field of information exchange.
He pointed out that Finland could not provide military assistance, as the current legislation did not allow for it.
According to Finnish defense minister Jussi Niinisto, Finland could provide assistance in the way of police operations and intelligence services.
He revealed that new legislation, which allows Finland to provide military assistance to the other EU member states, would be handed to the parliament at the beginning of next year.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, France asked EU countries for military help and other aid in its missions in the Middle East and Africa, in accordance with article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty that has never been used before in the history of the European Union (EU).
EU defense ministers unanimously backed France's request during a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. Endit