Kekkonen, Urho Kaleva, << KEHK oh `nehn,` OOR haw KAH leh `vah` >> (1900-1986), served as president of Finland from 1956 to 1981. Many people believe that his policies helped keep Finland from becoming Communist in spite of its political ties with the Soviet Union and the long boundary it shared with the Soviet Union.
Kekkonen stressed neutrality in the Cold War and cooperation with both the Soviet Union and the West. Under him, Finland became an associate member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). He also called for a European security conference that would guarantee a lessening of European tensions.
Kekkonen was born in Pielavesi, near Kuopio, and received a law degree from the University of Helsinki. He held many government positions, including various ministries, and served five times as prime minister. He was elected president in 1956 and was reelected three times. He resigned from office in 1981 because of poor health.
See also Finland (Recent developments) .
