President of Republic of Latvia to Make a State Visit to Estonia

President of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers together with his wife Lilita Zatlere will be in Estonia for a state visit from 7-8 April. The president will be accompanied by Latvian Minister of Defence Imants Viesturs Lieģis and Minister of Culture Ints Dālderis.

President Zatlers will meet with President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.

The official welcoming ceremony will take place at the Presidential Palace in Kadriorg on Tuesday, 7 April at 11.45. During the meeting, topics will be Estonia-Latvia bilateral relations, the economic crisis, energy and security policy, matters related to Eastern Partnership, and the five years that both countries have spent in the European Union and NATO. On the evening of 7 April, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mrs. Evelin Ilves will host a formal dinner in honour of their guests at the Bank of Estonia.

During his visit, President of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will lay a wreath at the Memorial for Teachers and Students Perished during the War of Independence at Tallinn Secondary Science School, open an exhibit dedicated to the Latvian deportations of 25 March 1949 at the Occupations Museum, visit the Latvian Embassy, and meet with representatives of the local Latvian community.

On Wednesday, 8 April, President Zatlers and President Ilves will open a business seminar at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Following that, a visit to Skype is scheduled. The programme for the second day of the visit also includes visiting the Latvian history exhibit at the National Library, a meeting with Speaker of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma, and a lecture by President Zatlers at the Foreign Ministry.

Mrs. Evelin Ilves will introduce Mrs. Lilita Zatlere to the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, the Children’s Hospital, KUMU Art Museum, and Tallinn’s Old Town.

President Zatlers and his accompanying delegation will depart from Estonia on the evening of 8 April.

Attention journalists!

Journalists, photographers and camera operators interested in covering the events must be accredited no later than Thursday, 2 April at 17.00 at the address: http://ankeet.vm.ee/eng/visit_of_president_of_latvia.

NB! Accreditation is only taking place at the above address.

Press cards will be available starting on Friday, 3 April at 16.00 from the entrance to the Foreign Ministry’s B-annexe located at Lauteri 2. The entrance is open from 08.00-18.00. Information on accreditation is available from the Foreign Ministry’s press centre: e-mail: centre@mfa.ee, tel. 63 77 604.

NB! Please specify which event(s) you would like to attend.

Tuesday, 7 April

11.45 The Official Welcoming Ceremony at the Presidential Palace at Kadriorg
POOL 1 (Weizenbergi 39)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 11.30

12.50 Meeting with the Press in the foyer of the Presidential Palace
POOL 2 (Weizenbergi 39)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 12.30

13.20 Meeting with Prime Minister Mr Andrus Ansip. Opportunity to photograph the welcoming outside.
POOL 3 (Stenbock House, Rahukohtu 3)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 13.00

15.10 A wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the "Schoolboy-Soldier of the War of Freedom" (Memorial for Teachers and Students Perished during the Liberty War) at Tallinn Secondary Science School
POOL 4 (Estonia pst. 6 / Georg Otsa)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 15.00

15.30 Opening of the exhibition "Deportations on March 25, 1949 in Latvia" at the Occupations Museum
POOL 5 (Toompea 8)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 15.20

19.00 State Dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Estonia and Mrs. Evelin Ilves in honour of H.E. President of the Republic of Latvia and Mrs. Lilita Zatlere in the Bank of Estonia "Independence Hall"
POOL 6 (Estonia pst. 13)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 18.40
Dress code: dark suit

Wednesday, 8 April

10.00 Opening of the Business Forum at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
POOL 7 (Toom-Kooli 17)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 9.45

12.10 Visit to the exhibition "Latvian history in cartoons" in National Library
POOL 8 (Tõnismägi 2)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 12.00

12.45 Meeting with Mrs. Ene Ergma, Speaker of the Riigikogu.
POOL 9 (Lossi plats 1a)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 12.30

15.00 Speech of H.E. Mr Valdis Zatlers "Beyond 2009: A View From Latvia" at the Press Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
POOL 10 (Islandi väljak 1)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 14.40, entrance at Lauteri 2

Programme of Mrs. Lilita Zatlere and Mrs. Evelin Ilves

Tuesday, 7 April

12.25 Visit to the Estonian Children's Literature Centre
POOL 1* (Pikk 73)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 12.15

Wednesday, 8 April

10.15 Visit to the Tallinn Children's Hospital
POOL 2* (Tervise 28)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 10.00

11.15 Arrival at the Kumu Art Museum
POOL 3* (Weizenbergi 34)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 11.00

14.15 Sightseeing tour in the Old Town
POOL 4* (St. Catherine’s passage)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 14.00

15.00 Visit to the Old Town Educational College Arthouse
POOL 5* (Vene 22)
The press is kindly asked to be present by 14.45

PRESS CENTRE
+372 637 7630
centre@mfa.ee