President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri received the best university graduates from all over Estonia this morning in Kadriorg. The Estonian President congratulated the graduates upon reaching an important milestone and hoped that each graduate would be carrying in his knapsack a scholar’s cap and gown, or the goal to continue their education. The President had invited to the reception fifty graduates from 21 universities and higher education institutions all over Estonia.

Besides the Minister of Education Tõnis Lukas, also the former Ministers of Education, during whose term in the Government today’s graduates had studied, were present on the reception, as well as the Rectors of universities.

In the afternoon, President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri welcomed 150 graduates from high schools and vocational training schools from all the counties of Estonia. President Meri said that although everybody feels the wisest just after finishing high school, just as he did in his time, they would know after graduation from the university that there is still a lot to learn. The President wished good luck and success to all the high school graduates.

All the university, high school and vocational school graduates present on the reception received a souvenir medal from Minister of Education Tõnis Lukas.

The President’s speeches held on today’s receptions can be read on the President’s homepage in the Internet.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 17, 1999

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