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The President of the Republic met the Estonians working in Finland
24.01.2002


President Arnold Rüütel is on a one-day visit to Finland. In the morning, he met the distinguished Estonians working in the neighbouring country. Mart Saarma, Director of the Institute of Biotechnology of Helsinki University, Ilmar Petersen, member of the Board of Elcoteq, and Henri Malvet, Vice President of the Nordea Bank, participated in the meeting.

The Head of State was interested in the relations between the top intellectuals of the two kin nations. Unfortunately, the contacts are less frequent and more superficial than those involved would like them to be or outsiders could imagine, Doctor Saarma admitted. In his opinion, especially co-operation in the field of science should be closer, because a small nation does not have top experts in all areas. In this field, the contacts between Finland and Sweden are much more efficient – mostly due to the support from both governments.

In reply to President Rüütel's questions when the people who have left Estonia to seek self-realisation abroad would return to their country, Dr. Saarma said that in fact, he has never left Estonia. Still, he is working and acquiring the necessary knowledge where the conditions for that are most favourable.

On the meeting with the leaders of the Bank of Finland, President Rüütel was interested in the effects of the accession to the European Monetary Union and the introduction of the Euro. Matti Vanhala, the President of the Central Bank of Finland, and other bank leaders confirmed that the transition in Finland had been smooth and had not brought about any noticeable rise in prices.

Next, the President visited the Department of the Finno-Ugrian languages of Helsinki University, and the Tuglas Society.

In the afternoon, a meeting of the Finnish President Tarja Halonen and the Estonian President Arnold Rüütel will take place.

This evening, President Rüütel will deliver a lecture in the meeting organised by the Paasikivi Society and the Tuglas Society, where he will announce Estonia's national priorities both in the near future and in the longer perspective.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, January 24, 2002



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