President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri participated in the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the city of Riga on the invitation of Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the President of the Republic of Latvia, and Mr. Imants Freibergs, yesterday and today.

On Friday evening, the Latvian President and her spouse hosted a dinner in honour of President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri in the Castle of Riga, after which both presidential couples participated in the opening of the 800th anniversary celebrations of the city of Riga in front of the Cathedral followed by a reception hosted by Gunars Bojars, the Mayor of Riga, at the House of Blackheads of Riga.

On Saturday, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the President of the Republic of Latvia, hosted a festive dinner in the House of Blackheads of Riga in honour of the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Mrs. Alma Adamkiene, the Estonian President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri, and Johannes Rau, the Federal President of Germany, and Mrs. Christina Rau, who had arrived to the celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the city of Riga.

President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri left in the afternoon to proceed to Finland in order to participate in the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the opening of the memorial to the Infantry Regiment 200 at Luumäki.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 18, 2001

back | archive of press releases | main page