President Halonen to visit the Kymenlaakso region

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press Release 20 February 2009

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi will visit the Kymenlaakso region on 25-26 February 2009. The programme includes an inspection of the Utti Jaeger Regiment on Wednesday, 25 February and will continue with stops in other parts of the region on Thursday, 26 February.

In Utti President Halonen will be given a closer look at the activities, equipment and training of the Special Jaeger Battalion, the Helicopter Battalion and the Combat Support Company. She will be accompanied on the inspection by Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces. Colonel Kim Mattsson, the Commander of the Utti Jaeger Regiment, will serve as host.

From Utti President Halonen will continue to Kouvola, where on Thursday, 26 February she will meet top city officials and discuss municipal mergers and the reform of the municipal and service structure. President Halonen will also stop at the Kymi paper and pulp mill to learn more about the mill's activities as well as restructuring and employee security in the branch.

The last stop on the programme will be Kotka, where President Halonen and Dr Arajärvi will visit the Maritime Centre Vellamo.