Tallinn –– At the Government of the Republic’s special meeting this morning, Wednesday, 15 March was declared a national Day of Mourning. A state funeral will be held for President Lennart Meri.
As a sign of mourning, Estonian flags will be hoisted as flags in mourning, tomorrow, on state and local government agencies in commemoration of President Meri. The government also invites all other persons and agencies to hoist national flags as flags in mourning on 15 March.
According to law, a funeral with state homage will be held for President Meri. The government commissioned the State Secretary to set up and present to the government, for approval, a working group to organise the government funeral..
The Government of the Republic expresses their deep condolences to the family and relatives of President Meri and to the Estonian nation.
Lennart Meri’s years of presidency were the years of reconstruction of our state. The years of transition to market economy and democracy, when the state institutions were brought to their present shape, when the state began to function 24 hours a day –– those were Lennart Meri’s words. These years cover the removal of the Russian forces from Estonia, and preparations for accession to NATO and the European Union.
Lennart Meri’s work as the head of state shaped the President’s role in Estonia and gave actual meaning to one of the most important institutions of the state. President Meri was Estonia’s representative; he spoke for the Republic of Estonia in international fora and gatherings. He had good personal contacts with many of his colleagues around the world. He was a welcome and intriguing speaker, interlocutor and decider on every level. His foreign policy aspiration was to highlight the indispensable role of small nations in the stabilisation of the international situation. 
Lennart Meri’s years of presidency made Estonia what it was when it entered the 21st century. He also spent the years following his presidency thinking about the state. This was another part of one great life that was dedicated to Estonia.
President Meri has always valued his home in Kaberneeme on the Viimsi Peninsula. It is an international home that has been visited by heads of state, ministers, ambassadors, thinkers –– dozens and dozens of personal friends of Lennart Meri. It is one beautiful Estonian home.
Lennart Meri can be proud that the state he helped to build has become so strong for the first time in history –– that a retired head of state can die in a free Estonia. Lennart had the luck...
Further information about the state funeral is available from the Government Communication Office :
Inga Jagomäe, telephone: 693 5706; GSM: 528 1467 [email protected]
Martin Jaško, telephone: 693 5770; GSM: 505 2568, [email protected]
Kersti Luha, 693 5713; 521 3085, [email protected]
General e-mail : [email protected]
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http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/
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