RUSSIA: FINNISH PRESIDENT MARTTI AHTISAARI MEETS BORIS YELTSIN

(12 Jul 1997) Russian/Nat Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari is in Russia for a two-day working meeting with his Russian counterpart, Boris Yeltsin. The two presidents will stay at the government resort of Shuiskaya Chupa in Karelia, a wild and picturesque area of lakes north of St. Petersburg that borders on Finland. President Ahtisaari has come at Yeltsin’s invitation to spend the weekend combining recreation with the discussion of bilateral and international matters. Yeltsin, who underwent heart bypass surgery in November, began his fishing vacation at the resort last Sunday as part of a rest program. At his invitation President Ahtisaari has attended the resort, famous for its fishing and hunting grounds. The two are expected to be taken by helicopter Saturday afternoon to a fishing spot on Lake Onega, where in the old Soviet Union it is said that divers put live fish on the hooks of visiting dignitaries and Kremlin bosses. But on Friday, the Moscow Times newspaper reported that local officials in Karelia have slipped 10,000 extra fish into Ukshozero Lake - where Yeltsin has been fishing during his vacation - so that the presidents could have some fun. It seemed the two began their holiday on the right note - both complimenting the fine weather in Karelia. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) ’I know he (President Ahtisaari) said today the weather here is better than in Madrid. That phrase has already become famous. I too prefer the weather here to that in Madrid.’ SUPER CAPTION: Boris Yeltsin, Russian President It’s believed the meeting will focus on current international issues and bilateral ties. Ahtisaari said Russian-Finnish relations were in good shape, which allowed the discussion of even serious issues in an informal setting. It’s reported that Yeltsin plans to raise the idea of jointly servicing the Finnish-Russian border and discuss other matters of bilateral cooperation, such as establishing a tourist complex on islands in the Gulf of Finland that have been closed to Finnish tourists since 1956. Various elements of the recent NATO Summit, which both leaders attended, will also be discussed, in the ’walking talking’ meeting. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: