Halonen said, however, that sustainable peace can only be achieved with the commitment of all warring parties. Visiting the Åland Islands over the weekend, the president suggested that Finland could send up to 200 peacekeepers to the region.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Grand Committee of the Finnish Parliament, Jari Vilén of the conservative National Coalition, also voiced support for sending Finnish troops to Lebanon, if the conditions laid down by the UN Security Council are fulfilled.
Vilén notes that Finland's extensive knowledge of the situation in Lebanon forms a strong basis for Finnish participation. He also says Nordic countries could join forces to work as a common peacekeeping battalion.
Finnish peacekeepers have served on and off in Lebanon since 1958.
Several European countries are preparing to send forces to Lebanon. Finland will most likely decide whether to send peacekeepers within the next week.
YLE TV News
