Book of condolences for former president of Estonia Arnold Rüütel to open Thursday

TALLINN - A book of condolences for former Estonian president Arnold Rüütel will be opened on Thursday at 12 p.m. at the Office of the President in Tallinn and the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu.

President Alar Karis made the first entry in the book of condolences on Wednesday evening.

"The president has a role to preserve the state. To seek balance and harmony among people and opinions. To stand fearlessly for and in front of the entire nation, regardless of time and circumstances. You conserved and built up Estonia, even in times when the state itself did not yet exist. You cherished understanding and responsibility; fought for greater equality. You supported the path to the EU and NATO, providing us with confidence. You were a guardian of the state, the people's president. Farewell to you," Karis wrote.

All of the messages of condolence will be forwarded to the former president's family.

The book of condolence is open to the public from 12 p.m. Thursday, and will remain open every day from that time to 5 p.m., until Rüütel's funeral takes place, on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Estonia Theater's Concert Hall.