Also Mauno Koivisto, the President of Finland also in 1991, attended the seminar, and President Meri continued the discussion with him on the lunch offered by the Paasikivi Society. In the afternoon, President Meri and President Koivisto visited the exhibition at the Finnish Military Museum and saw a multi-video-programme of the events of World War II.
In the presence of the Presidents Lennart Meri and Mauno Koivisto, a memorial plaque was opened on the wall of the house of the Tuglas Society at Mariankatu, in the centre of Helsinki. With this plaque, the Finnish public commemorates Estonia's return to the family of independent democratic countries. On August 19-23, 1991, the premises of the Tuglas Society became the office of Lennart Meri, the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs; from here, he conducted the restoration of Estonia's diplomatic relations with the countries of the world.
In Finland, President Lennart Meri also met General Gustav Hägglund, Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union, to discuss the security problems of the European Union, and also those of Estonia and Finland, as well as the successful training young Estonian officers have been receiving in Finland.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 14, 2001
