Office of the President of the Republic
Press Release 9/2014
11 March 2014
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will travel to Lebanon today, Tuesday 11 March 2013.
The President of the Republic will inspect the Finnish crisis management force participating in the UNIFIL operation in South Lebanon. Around 350 Finnish peacekeepers are serving in this operation. Since last November, Finland has been in command of the Finnish-Irish platoon in the At Tiri area.
President Niinistö will meet Michel Sleiman, the President of Lebanon, in Beirut on Thursday 13 March. The two presidents will discuss issues such as Finnish-Lebanon relations and the regional effects of the Syrian crisis. In addition, the programme will include meetings with Mr Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
President Niinistö will return to Finland on the night before Friday 14 March.