President of the Republic and Mrs. Helle Meri started their state visit to the Czech Republic today, on May 29. Today evening, President Lennart Meri placed flowers on the memorial of Jan Palah on the Vaclav Square in the centre of Prague.

Lennart Meri also met with Czech writers in the famous Cafe Slavia tonight. The President was accompanied by Leo Metsar and Küllike Tohver who have translated Czech literature into Estonian. Many Czech writers whose work has been published in Estonian, such as Ivan Klima and Arnošt Lustig, participated in the meeting.

The official reception ceremony of the state visit of the Estonian head of state will be held at 10.00 AM on May 30. President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri will be greeted there by President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel.

The state visit of the President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel to Estonia took place in April 1996.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 29, 2000

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