Experts, politicians to discuss future of Baltic region at conference

HELSINKI, August 27 (Itar-Tass) - Participants in the international
conference "Future of Baltic region in Europe" will discuss prospects for
international cooperation and development in Finland on Thursday.
It was sponsored by the Finnish government under the programme for
celebrating the 200th anniversary of Finnish statehood and is devoted to
the anniversary of signing the 1809 Fredrikshamn Peace Treaty between
Russia and Sweden. It formalised the transfer of Finland from the Swedish
sway into the Russian Empire as the autonomous Grand Principality.
Therefore, the city of Hamina (former Fredrikshamn) has become the
place for staging the conference.
Participants in the two-day forum will discuss long-term prospects for
cooperation in this part of Europe. Discussions will be attended by
experts from Finland, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Latvia and Denmark as well
as members of the Finnish parliament, members of the banking community,
politicians, the military and scholars. Reporters include Finnish Prime
Minister Matti Vanhanen.