Akhir 02, 1432 H/March 7, 2011, SPA -- US Vice-President Joe Biden arrived Monday in the Finnish capital Helsinki, the first stop on a three-nation tour that includes visits to Russia and Moldova, according to dpa. Biden - arriving from the United States where he has recently been engaged in talks with congressional leaders to overcome a deadlock on the federal budget - was Tuesday scheduled to meet President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi before continuing to Moscow. The last visit by a US vice-president to the Nordic country was in 1992 by former vice president Dan Qualye. Five years later, US President Bill Clinton visited Finland as well. Biden and Kiviniemi were expected to discuss the international financial situation and other international affairs, including Afghanistan, where Finland has deployed some 200 soldiers. In Russia, Biden is scheduled to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Their talks were likely to centre on events in the Middle East and North Africa, not the least Libya, as well as US-Russian ties. The visit to Moldova is set to be the first by a US vice- president, the White House said.
