Helsinki  - New Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who last week succeeded veteran Ilkka Kanerva, was Thursday to visit Austria, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Finland is currently chair of the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Stubb was to address the OSCE's regular decision-making body, the Permanent Council, during his visit.

In addition to talks with the OSCE general secretary, Stubb was also to meet with his Austrian counterpart, Ursula Plassnik.

Finland has said that it planned to focus on conflict prevention and crisis management during its one-year presidency of the organization that has member states in North America, Europe and Central Asia.

Kanerva resigned a week ago over the fallout caused by some 200 text messages he sent to a model, who also works as an exotic dancer. (dpa)