ON September 16, Fincon, the Finnish contingent of UNFICYP will lower its flag after 41 years, and the last Finnish peacekeeper will leave the island.

Over 10,000 Finnish peacekeepers have served in Cyprus since just after the outbreak of intercommunal troubles in 1964, making it one of the first UN contingents on the island, comprising just over 1,000 men.

Captain Juha Markus will be the last to leave when the contingent officially winds down by September 17.

“It has been a great honour to serve as the last Finnish Peacekeeper here in Cyprus,” Markus told journalists in Nicosia yesterday. “The experience during my tour was rich and extremely rewarding for me and to lower the Finnish flag on September 16 will be a significant tribute to all Finns who served in Cyprus for over 41 years.”

Finnish ambassador Risto Piipponen said Finland, which opened an embassy in Cyprus for the first time last year, was not shutting up shop for political reasons, but due to economic reasons. He said it cost as much to keep a small contingent of two or three in place as it would to send a larger group.

Initially, the Finnish battalion in Cyprus was deployed in the Nicosia and Kyrenia areas. After 1974, FINCON assumed responsibility in the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA) at Nicosia airport.

By late October 1977, the majority of FINCON troops were repatriated, ending the contingent’s active duty. However, 10 individuals still remained in Cyprus with this number further reducing over the years.

One Finnish soldier was killed in Cyprus in 1964 and seven were wounded during the Turkish invasion 10 years later.

UNFICYP has twice been led by Finnish commanders; Lieutenant General Armas-Eino Martola from 1966 to 1969 and Major general Ahti Vartiainen from 1994 to 1996.

In May this year, Ireland also lowered its flag on Cyprus after serving here since 1964.

Another recent change at UNFICYP was an increase in the number of contingents serving with civilian police with the arrival of Italian and Bosnian members.

A joint flag-raising ceremony was held at the UNPA Headquarters on Wednesday to mark the occasion.

The four members of the Italian police contingent joined UNFICYP on July 12, while the two members of the Bosnian contingent arrived on July 24.