President Lennart Meri attended the service of St. Olof's Day in the St. Olof's Church on Vormsi yesterday, on June 29, 1998. The service was performed by Jaan Kiivit, Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelican Lutheran Church, and the Archbishop Emeritus Henrik Svenungsson from Stockholm and Ants Rajando, Deacon of the Vormsi Congregation.

The President and Mrs. Helle Meri met the people of Vormsi and the former Swedish inhabitants of the island who now live in Sweden. Andres Koch, the Vormsi Rural Municipality Mayor informed the Head of State of the progress of returning of unlawfully expropriated property to the former inhabitants of Vormsi who are now living in Sweden, and of the connection with mainland, as the solution of both these problems is one prerequisite of the development of the island's economy including tourist business. Mall Vainola, Headmistress of the Vormsi School, showed the President around on the exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Vormsi School, in the schoolhouse where repairs will be completed for the beginning of the school year.

President Lennart Meri made the voyage to the Vormsi Island by launch.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, July 30, 1998

back | archive of press releases | main page