Finland Times

Iceland, a NATO member without its own air force, had asked Finland and Sweden earlier to help the alliance monitor its airspace.

At least six fighter planes and two helicopters along with 55 soldiers will participate the training programmes scheduled for January and February in 2014.

The meeting discussed follow-up of the Government Security and Defence Policy Report after Parliament had debated it when the Defence Minister, Carl Haglund told the committee that the Finnish Forces are  participating the training programme with the Icelandic air surveillance.  

In accordance with a policy outline formulated by the president and the cabinet committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier, submitted  a report to the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to facilitate a broad-based discussion on the issue in parliament.

 Finally the decision was made by the defence minister based on the parliament’s position.

The Friday’s meeting also discussed the presentation situation of UN peacekeeping operations in the Middle East.