Ahtisaari´s funeral in Helsinki on Nov 10

The state funeral of former President Martti Ahtisaari will take place in Helsinki on St Martin’s Day, November 10, said the government in a press release on WEednesday.

The funeral service will be held at Helsinki Cathedral at 13.00.

Ahtisaari will be buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery in the same area as Presidents Urho Kekkonen, Mauno Koivisto and Risto Ryti.

National flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country on the day of the funeral.

YLE channel 1 of the national Broadcasting corporation will broadcast the funeral live on TV as well YLE Areena, its online service, and there will be a radio transmission on Radio Suomi.

The government on Wednesday decided on the arrangements for the state funeral of the late President.

The members of the Government held a moment of silence to honour the memory of former President Ahtisaari.

The government on Wednesday also formed a committee to plan and organise the state funeral headed by State Secretary Risto Artjoki.

Martti Ahtisaari was the tenth President of the Republic of Finland. He was in office from 1994 to 2000.

Former President Martti Ahtisaari passed away in Helsinki on Monday morning at 6:40 after a long illness, said a press release issued by the office of the Finnish President. He was 86.

Finnish and international leaders on Monday expressed shock at the death of former President and Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari.