President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri received 250 elderly Estonians from all the counties of Estonia today on the garden of the Kadriorg palace to celebrate the Year of the Elderly.

In his address the President said that the Republic of Estonia needs everyone, and appreciates the elderly especially for their experience and their faithfulness to Estonia. As the President said, he was first and foremost glad to have been chosen the patron the Year of the Elderly, and still, when visiting the Estonian schools or universities, he gets along just as well with the younger generation. As the President said, the bridge between the oldest and the youngest is the most important factor in the political and social life of Estonia – more important in any case than in Sweden or in Germany.

As the President said, also the grey-haired people of advanced age should have their own policy towards the Republic of Estonia. According to the President, the elderly people will help the youth to know the Estonia where honesty and concord prevailed, where there was no hatred, even though there were problems, but where first of all there was hard work and the joy the work gave. As the President said, we also need today to see the unanimous, smiling and hardworking Estonia around us.

A photograph of all those present on the reception was made to remind them all of this day in the future.


Press Service of the office of the President
Kadriorg, June 29, 1999

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