Kaljulaid on Latvia's centennial: Time has grown Estonia, Latvia together

TALLINN – Speaking on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said that time has grown Estonia and Latvia together and made them strong.

"The histories of Estonia and Latvia and intertwined, we have fought for our freedom together and time has grown us together and made us strong" Kaljulaid said in her speech made in Riga on Sunday.

"On the independence day of Latvia, we raise flags across Estonia to together celebrate the freedom and independence of Latvians. It is a great pleasure for me to participate in the events of the anniversary of Latvia in Riga today and congratulate President Raimonds Vejonis and the people of Latvia on the 100th anniversary."

Kaljulaid was in Riga to celebrate the centennial of Latvia with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Icelandic President Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. The heads of state laid flowers at the foot of Independence Monument in Riga, watched the military parade and were scheduled to attend a concert dedicated to the country's centennial later on Sunday.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the state, the National Library of Latvia has launched a campaign titled "A Special Book for a Special Bookshelf," as part of which the president of Estonia was due to present the National Library of Latvia with a copy of the fresh Latvian translation of "Kalevipoeg," the national epic of Estonia.

Previously on Sunday, members of the Estonian government gathered in the courtyard of the Latvian embassy in Tallinn at 11 a.m. to sing the Latvian national anthem with the Collegium Musicale chamber choir and the orchestra of the Estonian defense forces and congratulate Latvia on the 100th anniversary of the state.

All state and municipal institutions and public-law legal persons across Estonia flew the Estonian national flag on Sunday to celebrate the centennial of Latvia.

Flags of Latvia meanwhile were hoisted in the morning in front of the Office of the President of the Republic in Kadriorg, Tallinn.