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Allow UN observers into Kashmir: Finnish Minister
Why in news?
- Dismissing the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) who visited Kashmir as lacking “expertise”, Finland has asked India to allow UN observers and Delhibased diplomats to travel to the Union Territory and assess the situation there.
More in news
- Finland currently holds the EU Council Presidency.
- Remarks of Finland’s Foreign Minister- Interview with The Hindu
(1) He raised “concerns” over the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, including about “human rights, freedom of speech and the detention of politicians” at meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
(2) At least if the diplomatic community based in Delhi could visit the region, it would create more confidence about what is going on. Transparency of the situation is better as otherwise all kinds of rumours and reports are floating around.
(3) The MEP delegation sent] was not, in my understanding, a multiparty and politically balanced delegation,” referring to the largely right-wing parties from Europe that were given a tour of Srinagar last week.
(4) It is good if people who have expertise about the situation in this region or on human rights, freedom of the media issues etc. are involved.
(5) As a former UN person, I would rely on United Nations observers, and in this kind of situation they may be the most unbiased.
- Indo-Pak tensions
(1) He called the tensions “unsustainable” and advised two sides to begin a dialogue for a “final settlement” of the Kashmir
- Comments from Finnish Foreign Minister are a part of a growing number of calls to the government for more transparency over conditions in J&K after the decision to abrogate Article 370.
- Remarks on economic cooperation between India and Finland,
(1) Cooperation in developing green technologies to combat climate change, and air pollution challenges.
(2) Resumption of the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA or FTA) between the EU and India.
Sources
The Hindu