State funeral of former Estonian president Lennart Meri, today - 26.03.2006

[Hukatus]

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) -- Former President Lennart Meri, a writer, film director and statesman whose relentless struggle against communist oppression helped the Baltic nation break free from the Soviet Union in 1991, has died, the presidential office said Tuesday. He was 76.

A survivor of a Soviet labor camp in Siberia, Meri became Estonia's first president after the country regained independence, serving from 1992-2001. He died overnight at a hospital in Tallinn after a long illness, the presidential office said.

"A politician and a visionary has left us," President Arnold Ruutel, Meri's successor, said in a statement.

Among ordinary Estonians, Meri was a beloved, charismatic father-figure, whose dry humor and razor-sharp wit only added to his charm. Government officials, however, were often wary of him because of his scathing attacks on unethical practices and corrupt civil servants.
read on - http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/03/14/meri.obit.ap/index.html
more - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4806218.stm
also note the he spoke fluently in german, french, english, finnish ja russian language.

representatives from over 50 countries took part of the funeral ceremony.
(clicky on a picture te see better quality picturtes)
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Also two NATO jetfighters took part of the funeral ceremony to pay last the respect.

[Jani.R]

Great man!

[joka]

RIP

Meri was a great man.

[Resurrection]

Is Lennart a common name in Estonia?

[Hukatus]

Is Lennart a common name in Estonia?
yes it is
too short message blah blah

[Kak]

Did a representative from Russia come? And is that a NATO MiG-29 flying by?

[Hukatus]

Did a representative from Russia come? And is that a NATO MiG-29 flying by?yes, Russian embassador. i don't have specific information about that plane but it must be from one of the NATO membe country guarding the airspace of baltics and based in Lithuania

[larryzou]

great guys

[Darkstorn]

yes, Russian embassador. i don't have specific information about that plane but it must be from one of the NATO membe country guarding the airspace of baltics and based in Lithuania
Polish Air Force Mig-29 in that case if i'm not totally mistaken. ;)

/E: Yeah, the national markings are quite visible on the picture.

[Hukatus]

Polish Air Force Mig-29 in that case if i'm not totally mistaken. ;)

/E: Yeah, the national markings are quite visible on the picture.indeed, these planes were part of a NATO program to secure baltic air space, and at the moment is is polands turn to do it, their 3 months will soon be over and next country will take over.

[Hukatus]

more pictures can be found here http://www.mil.ee/~fotek/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album113