Finnish President to visit the region

Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, whose country is presiding over the current rotating presidency of the European Union, will tour the region next month. Finnish officials said the Finnish president will visit the Palestinian self-rule areas and Israel on September 4 - 6.

They added that the Finnish President is also expected to visit Syria and Lebanon on the second day of his visit. They said that preparations of final details for his last stop are still underway.