KOSOVO: FINNISH PRESIDENT AHTISAARI VISIT

(21 Nov 1999) English/Nat

Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari has arrived in Kosovo to see for himself how peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance in the province are proceeding.

Ahtisaari, who currently holds the revolving presidency of the European Union, came to Kosovo following his participation in the OSCE summit in Turkey.

At the summit discussions about Kosovo were high on the agenda.

Martti Ahtisaari's first port of call in Kosovo was the village of Lipjan, 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the provincial capital Pristina.

The Finnish President was met there by a contingent of Finnish soldiers on peacekeeping duty in Kosovo.

As the current holder of the revolving presidency of the European Union, he's been following events in Kosovo closely.

Ahtisaari told reporters his visit was an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of how peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance in Kosovo are proceeding.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Later on today, I will be meeting the K-FOR commander and the leadership of the civilian side of the operation. I think it's fair to say that I want to get first-hand information on how the plans (for Kosovo) are proceeding. This helps me to read the reports coming to my desk from New York and here, and I welcome the opportunity to be here."
SUPER CAPTION: Martti Ahtisaari, Finnish president

Ahtisaari played a key role in efforts to persuade Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to end his campaign of ethnic cleansing in the province.

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