Language

Don't you have an account with Pajhwok Afghan News?

Click here to subscribe.

author avatar
16 Jul 2018 - 15:06
author avatar
16 Jul 2018 - 15:06

HELSINKI, FINLAND: President of the United States Donald Trump and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin are in a meeting on Monday 16 July in Helsinki, hosted by the President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö.

The bilateral meetings with both presidents after midday (at approximately 1 pm) in the Presidential Palace Gothic Hall and the Hall of Mirrors, will have on the agenda international situations, arms control and disarmament issues.

Issues that are important for Afghanistan people such as peace and counter terrorism, regional cooperation will be tackled.

”Even small steps in reducing tensions would be in everybody’s interest, ”  President Niinistö said. Although economic issues were not earlier on the list, impact of businesses on the environment are part of the agenda.  “In my own conversations with the presidents I intend to take up our concerns on the tense situation in the Baltic Sea region as well as our Arctic objectives, in particular common efforts to tackle black carbon emissions.”

The American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will also meet with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini also in the Presidential Palace. Finland, a consistent advocate of dialogue in international relations hosted in 1997 the summit of Russia president Boris Yeltsin and US President Bill Clinton. During the past year, deputy foreign ministers as well as the chiefs of defence of Russia and the United States also met in Helsinki in a natural continuation to this high level dialogue.

Afghan concerns in Finland

Finland, a nation of about 5.5 million people in the most northern part of Europe, is considered a close partner of NATO.  During the NATO Summit in Brussels attended by President  Trump to and allies on Afghanistan last July 11 –12, President Niinistö has decided to send additional troops as part of Afghan peacekeeping operations. “This means a total of 60 soldiers to the mission instead of the current 30”, he said.

At the NATO Summit, President Ashraf Ghani said Trump gave his full support to coalition leaders. A ‘real dialogue’ to bring peace to Afghanistan was one of Ghani`s mission.

Meanwhile, the NATO leaders had asked the Taliban to engage in Afghan-led peace process.

During the meeting with partner countries last July 12 on the sidelines of the NATO summit, the US president asked allies and partners to extend funding for the security forces, as part of his new strategy in Afghanistan.

He reiterated that the goal of the US government is to have a conditions-based operation that will provide that that their mission is to stay in course in Afghanistan, help the Afghan forces with training, and advise to bring peace and stability to the country.

“The reason that that is so important, of course, is the terrorist networks that have grown in Afghanistan (and) have been exported to many of our countries as we have seen starting with 9/11 in America, but also European terrorist attacks as well,” a senior US official said.  “And they are sharing the burden for trying to stabilize that area so that we will stop the terrorism from being exported”.

Protesters for Afghanistan are amongst 10 groups staging a rally

Protest groups for women’s rights, Afghanistan and South Cameroon were amongst the thousands that greeted President Trump and Mrs Melania Trump when they arrived yesterday, July 15 to Helsinki from their short break in Scotland.

At least 10 demonstrations protested the US and Russian presidents as they arrived in Helsinki. The demonstrators included representatives from up to 100 grassroots organisations with the umbrella group Helsinki Calling, the largest organiser who claim to support human rights and democracy.

Nely Keinänen, a Finnish activist organising Sunday’s demonstration said that the protest is an opportunity to tell both leaders that they cannot ignore human rights, the environment, threats to democracy, reproductive rights, and impacts of separating families. “The world is changing, and global power arrangements are realigning. US dominance is being challenged. Our goals was to give voice to people who have been affected by Russian and/or US military interventions. For example, we have speakers from the Middle East, Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan,” Keinänen said.

Finnish newspapers turned to two international experts for commentary: American foreign policy analyst and former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, and Heather Conley director of the Europe Program at Center for Strategic & International Studies. The nation’s largest circulation daily, Helsingin Sanomat lists the issues on the summit agenda as being Ukraine, Syria and Russian interference in US elections.

Visits: 3

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok's editorial policy.

Author's brief introduction

GET IN TOUCH

SUGGEST A STORY

Pajhwok is interested in your story suggestions. Please tell us your thoughts by clicking here.

PAJHWOK MOBILE APP

Download our mobile application to get the latest updates on your mobile phone. Read more