STOCKHOLM, October 30. /TASS/. Finland and the US are in final negotiations on a defense cooperation agreement, the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported, citing sources.

According to them, the agreement may be signed as early as this week. The talks are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The agreement concerned is the Defense Cooperation Agreement. Its purpose is to allow the US Armed Forces to extend their stay on Finnish territory and certain agreed areas past normal military exercises, the newspaper says.