eesti keeles

Press Releases
Open in print mode

The President of the Republic spoke at the reception held on the occasion of the 85th birthday of Jaan Kross
16.02.2005


President  Arnold Rüütel held a reception to the participants of an international colloquium dedicated to the 85th birthday of Jaan KrossThe President of the Republic and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel today at Kadriorg held a reception to the participants of an international colloquium dedicated to the 85th birthday of Jaan Kross.

In his greeting address, president Rüütel said that the creative work and activities of Jaan Kross had so many facets that seeing him only as a writer would be an obvious simplification. ''Needless to say that Jaan Kross is first and foremost a writer. But the fact that his works have been translated into a quarter of a hundred languages, makes him an Estonian who has made it possible for people who speak all those languages to enter not only into Estonian literature but also into Estonian frame of thinking. And so, they can discover for themselves the existence of this small nation and the unique richness of its culture,'' the Head of the State noted.

The President of the Republic said that Jaan Kross was an attentive observer, an accurate and elaborate narrator and a balanced judge. ''Jaan Kross is a perfect representative of Estonians and the Estonian way of thinking since he is not only an observer but also a firsthand participant. Being the same age as the Republic of Estonia, he has lived through all the success and ordeals that the citizens of our state have had. But besides the recent history, he also knows the older history and cultural history. Therefore his words weigh more than those of a bystander,'' president Rüütel said.

President Rüütel thanked Jaan Kross for showing Estonia to the world and to Estonians themselves, and wished him happiness upon his upcoming jubilee.


Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 16, 2005


© 2006 Office of the President l tel: + 372 631 6202 l fax: + 372 631 6250 l sekretarvpk.ee