President Lennart Meri received the representatives of the Estonian Newspapers Union and the different newspapers, who awarded him the title of the most press friendly public figure of the year, and the megaphone going with the title.

Tarmu Tammerk, Managing Director of the Estonian Newspapers Union, said that one of the reasons for nominating President Lennart Meri the most press friendly public figure of the year was his good relationship with rural newspapers relevant from the viewpoint of regional policy. As the members of the Estonian Newspapers Union said, also the sophisticated content of the President's statements had been decisive in their choice.

The President thanked the journalists for the surprise of being chosen as the most press friendly public figure. The President emphasised that democratic society was only possible hand in hand with independent journalism. As the President said, many of the Estonian journalists have become highly professional due to the increasing competition, he specially appreciated the foreign policy commentators, although he admitted reading more foreign policy than domestic policy analyses.

Lennart Meri remembered that one of the dreams of his childhood was to become a good journalist, but this dream did not come true. The President advised the journalists to be more analytical.

Jaakko Iloniemi, Managing Director of the Centre for Finnish Business and Policy Studies, and Pekka Oinonen, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Estonia, were also present in Kadriorg today, and handed over to the Head of State the first copy of ''Estonia Tomorrow'', the report which has compiled by the Centre.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, December 18, 1998

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