On Tuesday, May 16, the President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen and Mr. Pentti Arajärvi will arrive on a two-day state visit to Estonia by an invitation from President Lennart Meri.

The President of the Republic of Finland will arrive in Tallinn at 11 AM by destroyer ''Pohjanmaa''. The official reception ceremony will be held at noon in front of the Kadriorg Palace, official discussions will follow.

The President of the Republic will offer a dinner in honour of the President of Finland and Mr. Pentti Arajärvi in his home in Viimsi. Thereafter they will visit Reaalkool (Secondary Scientific School) where the President of the Republic of Finland will place a wreath on the memorial to the schoolchildren and teachers who fell in the War of Independence. After that, President Halonen will meet with the Chairman of Riigikogu Toomas Savi in the Hall of Kalevipoeg.

At 4 PM, the President of Finland will deliver a lecture in the National Library and then go for a walk at Toompea. Mayor Jüri Mõis will greet the President of Finland in Tallinn Town Hall.

At 8 PM, Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri will deliver a festive dinner in honour of the guests in Mustpeade Maja.

On Wednesday, May 17, the President of Finland and the accompanying delegation will be in Saaremaa where they will visit Kuressaare Castle, the theatre and the Town Hall. The Mayor of Kuressaare Jaanus Tamkivi will greet the President of Finland in the Town Hall.

They will also visit Lake Kaali where they will plant a tree and Saare County Governor Jüri Saar will offer the President of Finland a dinner in the Kaali Pub.

At 4.45 AM, President Meri and President Halonen will give a press conference in the Press Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The President of Finland and the accompanying delegation will leave Tallinn at 8.30 PM.


We request that all journalists who wish to reflect the state visit of the President of Finland register at the latest by Monday, May 12, in the Press Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, telephones 631 7631 and 631 7633.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 4, 2000

back | archive of press releases | main page