President Vējonis on busy visit to Estonia

On April 10, after the official welcoming ceremony at the Kadriorg Palace, Vējonis will meet with President of Estonia Mrs Kersti Kaljulaid, as well as Speaker of the Parliament (Riigikogu) Henn Põlluaas and Prime Minister Jüri Ratas - taking a brief break from coalition formation intrigues following recent parliamentary elections.

Later, Vējonis will visit the Commemorative Memorial for Victims of Communist Genocide in Tallinn, will participate in the international cybersecurity exercise Locked Shields, and will meet with representatives of the Latvian diaspora in Estonia. At the end of the first day, President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid and First Gentleman of Estonia Georgi-René Maksimovski will host a state dinner in honor of their guests.

“Our countries are close not only geographically. We are linked by a common historical heritage, a vision of Europe and the world, similar values, ​​and understanding of the sense of friendly shoulder and common security strengthened in the common fight for independence and freedom. When celebrating the centenary of our countries, we are aware of that more than ever,” said the President of Latvia in the meeting with Estonian counterpart.

"Our nations developed over the same period. Our countries have passed through common historical trails. Our national movements shaped a breakthrough in the development of the Baltic society. Yet, just a hundred years ago, in the summer of 1919, Latvian and Estonian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder against the enemy forces at the Battle of Cesis. With this joint victory, Latvia’s independence was finally secured, and therefore Latvian people will always be grateful to Estonia for this invaluable help of volunteers,” Vējonis said.

On Thursday, April 11, Vējonis heads out of the capital and will visit Paide, where the manufacturing plant of Latvian Building Supplies Company Sakret operates and will take part in a round table discussion “Trends of Labor Market Development”.

Then in Tartu, Vējonis and his wife will visit the University of Tartu, where he is due to deliver a speech. Later on, the presidential couple will meet with Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas, lay flowers at the graveyard of Latvian riflemen and Latvian refugees killed in the First World War, and will visit the Estonian National Museum. At the end of the visit, they will attend a reception hosted by Ambassador of Latvia to Estonia Raimonds Jansons and an official farewell ceremony.

The state visit is aimed at strengthening the political, economic, educational, and cultural cooperation between Latvia and Estonia, according to the official account.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Economics Ralfs Nemiro, as well as official and business delegations will accompany the President of Latvia on his visit.