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The President of the Republic for the first time ever visited the Crimean Estonians16.10.2002
 President Arnold Rüütel and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel on their state visit to Ukraine this afternoon travelled from Simferopol to the village of Krasnodarka where several Estonian families, the descendants of those having 140 years ago emigrated from Estonia to the Crimea, are still living.
Nearly 200 villagers of different ethnic origin and members of the local Estonian Society had gathered to welcome the Estonian Head of State. Children sang a song of welcome in Estonian. The President talked with local Estonians and called at their homes.
Thereafter, they left for the neighbouring village Aleksandrovka and visited a secondary school there at which Merge Simmul having arrived this autumn from Estonia is teaching the Estonian language. According to the teacher, she has 22 Estonian pupils and eight of some other ethnic backround. On top of that, a dozen or so adults are studying Estonian too. The President gave the school's Estonian class a TV set, Estonian books and textbooks as a present. President Arnold Rüütel is the first Estonian Head of State ever to visit in their home villages the Estonians living in the Crimea.
For this evening, President Arnold Rüütel and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel have invited the local Estonians to a dinner in the village of Petrovka.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 16, 2002
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