President Lennart Meri became the honorary doctor of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Turku today.

The degree of honorary doctor of the university was conferred on the head of state of Estonia at the ceremony held today at noon in Turku Concert Hall. President Meri received the certificate, hat and sword of honorary doctor. The University of Turku conferred the degree of honorary doctor on 15 persons and the degree of doctor on 242 persons today. After the ceremony, the academic procession went to a festive service in the Turku Dome Church where a sermon was delivered by Archbishop Jukka Paarma. The Archbishop of All Finland and Karelia Johannes also attended the service. Today evening, the University of Turku will offer a dinner to the new honorary doctors and doctors where several academic speeches will be delivered. Rector of the University of Tartu Professor Jaak Aaviksoo has also been invited to the dinner.

The conferment festivities will end tomorrow in Naantali and President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri will arrive in Tallinn in the evening of May 27.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 26, 2000

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