Finland Times

     The Finnish Immigration Service has updated its appraisal of conditions in Iraq, saying the situation has improved in many places which is likely to affect decisions on asylum applications.

     Talking to media in Helsinki, the head of the asylum process unit Esko Repo declined to estimate the impact of the new criteria on the number of applications.

     Repo reminded that decisions by the immigration specialists would ultimately be in the hands of Finnish administrative courts and the High Court of Administration, if the applicant files a legal complaint.

     The Finnish view is that the security situation in the province of Babylon and the city of Kirkuk has improved. Finnish authorities still describe Baghdad as "problematic," but say that "not all applicants from there can be viewed as being in personal danger."

     In earlier years, Finland received many applicants from the Kurdish areas in the north, but recently there have been more arrivals from southern Iraq and Baghdad area, said Repo.

     The Finnish Immigration Service is also increasing its manpower resources. So far 75 officials have been processing around 4,000 applicants per year. The number of officials will reach 500 by the end of the year as at least 30,000 applications are expected.