Finland Hustling to Get Ready for U.S.-Soviet Summit

A week ago, Finns were discussing troubling developments in the Persian Gulf in between conversations about the weather and prospects for skiing.

But last Saturday’s announcement of a superpower summit in Helsinki during the deteriorating Gulf crisis changed this sleepy Nordic nation into a bustling beehive of activity as Finns feverishly prepared to be the focus of world attention.

By today, little was ready except the hosts’ hopes and pride--and promises that, by the summit’s start, the needs of delegations and reporters will be fulfilled, the main actors--President Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev--would be safe and everything will be functioning like clockwork.

Finland’s President Mauno Koivisto proudly told Finns that the superpower choice of Helsinki as a venue came because of the country’s neutrality and careful relation-building with both sides.

“I am extremely satisfied,” the normally subdued Koivisto beamed.

Finland’s police, after borrowing hundreds of vehicles and communications equipment from other forces, said today that they are ready for the job of guarding the two leaders.

City hotels, after diplomatically ejecting non-summit guests, said all the 1,000 Soviet and U.S. officials and 2,500 reporters and technicians have a place to stay.

The choice of Finland as a venue for Sunday’s summit seemed a calculated effort by both parties to underline the rapprochement between the world’s two greatest powers and the atmosphere of cooperation that has developed in recent months.

It was in 1975 that Finland hopefully hosted the watershed meeting between European and North American nations that decided on a common European security, cooperation and human rights charter to bring East and West closer together.

A successful accord now would improve not only European security, but also Finland’s difficult position as a Western halfway house for the Soviet Union.