President of Finland begins his visit to Israel

Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari met today with his Israeli counterpart, Ezer Weizman and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

After the meeting the Finnish president said Israel wants to ratify an agreement with Syria in direct negotiations between the two sides and that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad assured him that Syria is committed to a just and comprehensive peace.

Syria calls for Israel's agreement to resume negotiations from their halting point in 1996.

The Finnish president added that his country, which is currently heading the European Union, makes a mediation between Syria and Israel in order to resume negotiations between them.