HELSINKI, Finland - The 250 soldiers Finland plans to send to Lebanon will clear mines and help set up bases for the expanded UN peacekeeping force being deployed to protect a cease-fire, the government said on Monday. Under the government plans presented Monday, a small intelligence unit will be deployed in late October and the full force a month later. The Eduskunta, or parliament, is expected to give a green light to the mission on Thursday with President Tarja Halonen giving her approval on Friday.We are well aware of the risks involved with this operation, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen told Finnish YLE radio. Cease-fire violations are likely to be the biggest risk of all. Also, numerous unexploded mines and bombs in the area pose a direct threat.
Finlands mission is estimated to cost some Ð16.5 million (US$21.1 million) this year and Ð26.9 million (US$34.4 million) in 2007. Some Ð6.7 million (US$8.6 million) of Finlands expense is expected to be reimbursed by the United Nations at a later stage, the government said in a statement.