FINLAND HELSINKI, FINLAND, JULY 4, SPA -- ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER TZIPI LIVNI WAS TO HOLD TALKS TUESDAY WITH LEADERS IN FINLAND, WHICH JUST TOOK OVER THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ROTATING PRESIDENCY. HER VISIT COMES AS A DEADLINE PASSED FOR ISRAEL TO MEETTHE DEMANDS OF PALESTINIANS HOLDING AN ISRAELISOLDIER. ISRAEL REJECTED ANY NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEMAND PRESSED AHEAD WITH A MILITARY OFFENSIVE INTHE GAZA STRIP MEANT TO FREE THE CAPTURED SOLDIER. LIVNI WAS TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER MATTI VANHANEN AND FOREIGN MINISTER ERKKI TUOMIOJA TO DISCUSS EU-ISRAELRELATIONS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. ON MONDAY, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO SAID THE EU WAS «VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENTS WE ARE NOW SEEING,» AND URGED BOTH PARTIES TO WORK TO END THE CRISIS. «WE IN THE COMMISSION ARE READY TO ASSIST ALL THE EFFORTS OF OUR MEMBER STATES TO GIVE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS,» BARROSO SAID DURING A VISIT TO HELSINKI, AFTER TALKS WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT TARJA HALONEN. LIVNI WAS TO ARRIVE IN FINLAND FROM MOSCOW, WHERE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV CALLED FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CAPTURED ISRAELI SOLDIER AND URGEDISRAEL TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT. --SPA 04/07/2006 12:16 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/373193