1.
CU SIGN "PORKALA".
0.03

2.
GV PAN..OLD FARMS AND HOUSES
0.09

3.
SV OLD FARM HOUSE.
0.11

4.
LV OLD FARM HOUSES.
0.13

5.
SV DITTO.
0.15

6.
LV ANOTHER.
0.17

7.
LV RUBBLE OF FARM HOUSE.
0.20

8.
SV DITTO.
0.24

9.
LV PAN..SITE OF FARM HOUSE BURNED DOWN BY RUSSIANS.
0.29

10.
LV PAN..NEW HOUSES BEING BUILT.
0.34

11.
GV ABO HARBOUR
0.38

12.
SV FISHING VESSEL IN HARBOUR
0.40

13.
SV NAMES OF LIFEBELT "TURKU - ABO".
0.42

14.
GV DOCKYARD.
0.46

15.
LV CRANES.
0.48

16.
LV CRANES AND RAILWAY LINES ALONG DOCKSIDE.
0.51

17.
LV SHIP IN HARBOUR.
0.53

18.
SV NAME ON SHIP.
0.57

19.
LV PAN..SHIPPING IN HARBOUR.
0.59

20.
GV HARBOUR.
1.04



Initials EHR/V/WS/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AS COUNTRIES IN BOTH EAST AND WEST POLITICAL BLOCS WAITED FOR FINLAND'S REPLY TO THE RECENT SOVIET NOTE, A VISNEWS CAMERAMAN VISITED PORKALA, THE FORMER SOVIET MILITARY BASE IN FINLAND, AND THE SEAPORT OF ABO (OR TURKU). WHILE IT APPEARS THAT THE SOVIET UNION HAS NOT SO FAR DEMANDED A NEW BASE, PORKALA IS A SYMBOL TO THE FINNS OF WHAT SOVIET OCCUPATION CAN MEAN.

IT IS ONLY 50 MILES ACROSS THE GULF OF FINLAND FROM RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED ESTONIA. A FEW OLD FARMS AND HOUSES REMAIN - UNOCCUPIED AND IN VARIOUS STAGES OF RUIN. WHEN THE TROOPS LEFT IN 1956 THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS DID NOT RETURN. A FEW OTHER OLD BUILDINGS AND STORAGE HUTS REMAIN; AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRAW PEOPLE BACK TO THE AREA, NEW HOUSES ARE BEING BUILT NEARBY.

THE RUSSIANS OCCUPIED PORKALA FOR 12 YEARS. IT WAS IN 1944 THAT THE RUSSIAN ARMIES - POISED FOR THE FINAL STRIKE AGAINST GERMANY - SIGNED AN ARMISTICE WITH THE FINNS. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT "THREAT" OF WEST GERMANY IN THE BALTIC (AS THE RUSSIANS PUT IT) THAT THE SOVIET UNION SENT THE RECENT NOTE TO FINLAND, CALLING FOR SOVIET-FINNISH NEGOTIATIONS.

ABO IS ONE OF FINLAND'S GATEWAYS TO THE WEST. TREASURE ABOUT 130,000 INHABITANTS, AND IT IS AN ENTERPRISING PORT WITH LARGE INDUSTRIES. ABO HAS TWO UNIVERSITIES; AND HAS A CASTLE DATING FROM 1280.