Tuomioja wrote in his blog that using chemical weapons is a crime, and that there would be no quick fixes in dealing with the situation.
“The use of chemical weapons is a serious crime against humanity and those responsible have to be brought to justice, no matter how difficult and long the process will be,” wrote the veteran Social Democrat. “It calls for certain knowledge and firm evidence of what has been used and by whom.”
The foreign minister, who wears a CND badge, does not see military action as providing a long-term solution to the civil war in Syria.
“There is no military solution either from inside or outside Syria that could stop the sufferings of the Syrian people, which have already resulted in the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the Millennium,” wrote Tuomioja.
He also said that Finland stands ready to provide chemical weapons inspection and disarmament expertise, and would retain the option of contributing to a potential UN peacekeeping force in the country.
Tuomioja’s blog post is available in English here.