OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting to be biggest conference ever in Helsinki

Motorists advised to avoid unnecessary driving in centre of Helsinki on Thursday and Friday

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The meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on December 4-5 will be the biggest conference ever to have been held in Helsinki.
     It will cause significant disruption to transport and parking arrangements in the centre of the city and in the Pasila area.
     
There will be extensive restrictions on parking on streets near all of the large hotels in the centre. The parking bans will take effect on Monday night, and will be in force until Sunday, December 7th. Cars parked in the areas will be towed away.
      The restricted areas include some locations normally used for designated residential parking. “Unfortunately, it might be necessary to leave a car far away from home”, says Heikki Seppä of the Helsinki police.
      There will also be restrictions on parking in the areas near the Fair Centre and the Finlandia Hall. The guests will attend an event at Finlandia Hall on Thursday evening.
     
Police recommend that motorists avoid driving into the centre of Helsinki on Thursday and Friday.
     Mannerheimintie, a major thoroughfare, will be closed to regular traffic for several hours on Thursday morning and evening, and on Friday morning and afternoon in order to accommodate convoys for the delegates.
     About 77 motorcades will be moving around Helsinki during the meeting, which is more than ever before.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Extensive security arrangements in Helsinki next week for OSCE conference (27.11.2008)
  Stubb wants to get OSCE to agree on political declaration (21.11.2008)

Links:
  OSCE website: 16th OSCE Ministerial Council, Helsinki, 4 and 5 December 2008

Helsingin Sanomat