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The President of the Republic and the President of the Republic of Finland participated in the opening ceremony of the Kumu Art Museum
17.02.2006


President Arnold Rüütel today at Kadriorg met with the President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen who had arrived in Estonia for the opening ceremony of the Kumu Art Museum.

The President of the Republic once again congratulated President Halonen on her re-election, and welcomed the agreement reached in Finland to abandon the restrictions on free movement of labour for new member states of the EU. The Finnish president underlined that she attached great importance to further intensification of Estonian-Finnish relations, and would take active steps to achieve that also during her second term of office.

After the meeting, both Heads of State participated in the opening ceremony of the Kumu Art Museum.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, President Rüütel said that the opening of a new art museum is something every nation - small or big, can be proud of. Everywhere a new cultural edifice signals a new quality both in the way of thinking and in creative life, the President of the Republic added.

''The significance of that cultural edifice can be compared with that of the building of Estonia theatre, which was completed in 1913 and is still our national theatre and one of the most representative buildings. Also in the case of Estonia theatre, people kindred to us - the Finns, played a role, as a well-known Finnish architect Armas Lindgren designed it. The same applies to the Kumu Art Museum that opens its doors today and makes our ties with Finland even closer. Pekka Vapaavuori, the author of this unique building has become like one of our own in Estonia, and I suppose that Kumu will bring here many artists and art lovers from Finland, and certainly also from many other countries,'' the Estonian Head of State said.

President Halonen, in her address that she delivered in Estonian, congratulated the people of Estonia on the opening of a new art museum and added that Finns well understand the importance of that building, as history has taught them the significance of culture for small nations. The Finnish President expressed hope that Kumu would become a new intellectual meeting place where Estonian and Finnish cultures intertwine.

President of the Republic of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga also sent her greetings on the occasion of the opening of the Kumu Art Museum.

Tonight, President and Mrs. Rüütel will host a dinner in honour of President Halonen and Mr. Pentti Arajärvi.


Public Relations Department of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 17, 2006


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