At sunrise on the Independence Day at 7.35 a.m., the national flag will be festively hoisted on the Pikk Hermann Tower at Toompea. The flag hoisting ceremony, where addresses will be given by Toomas Savi, Chairman of the Riigikogu, and Jaan Kiivit, Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and where the choirs of the Estonian Male Singing Society will sing, will this year for the first time take place on the courtyard of the Toompea Castle, and not in the Commandant's Garden.

At 10 a.m. the President will receive the parade of the Defence Forces on the Vabaduse Square. On the parade, a speech will be given by Colonel Märt Tiru, Acting Commander of the Defence Forces.

At 11.30 a.m., the Independence Day service will begin at the St. Charles' church.

At 1 p.m., Prime Minister Mart Laar will hand over this year's science and culture awards in the White Hall of the Toompea Castle.

At 6 p.m., the festive concert dedicated to the 82nd anniversary of the Republic of Estonia and the reception hosted by the President of the Republic and Mrs. Helle Meri will begin at the Estonia Theatre.

On the concert, scenes from Evald Aav's opera ''Vikerlased'' will be performed. Also the cantata ''God Save My Native Land'' by Evald Aav will be performed for the first time. On March 7 this year, it will be one hundred years from the birth of the composer Evald Aav. The concert has been produced by Arne Mikk, the conductor will be Endel Nõgene, the chorus master Elmo Tiisvald; the designer is Airi Eras. The soloists, the opera choir and the orchestra of our National Opera Estonia will be performing.

On the reception hosted by the President of the Republic and Mrs. Helle Meri, the welcoming song will be sung by the children's choir of Ridala Elementary School from Lääne County, and Peeter Saul's Orchestra will play for dance.

All the above celebrations will be broadcast on Estonian TV.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 17, 2000

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