Baltic presidents travel to Scotland to visit the Queen

  • 2006-07-03
  • By TBT staff
Two Baltic heads of state will journey to Scotland to meet with Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom this week.

In October the Queen is scheduled to return the honor by making an historic trip to the Baltics, which will be the first time a British monarch has visited the region.

Estonian President Arnold Ruutel and his wife Ingrid departed for Edinburgh on Sunday July 2, ahead of a scheduled audience with the Queen on July 4.

According to his diary, Ruutel will tour Edinburgh Castle, the Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery, a sheep farm, and will meet local businessmen. He will be accompanied by Scottish Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie. Ruutel will also meet the leader of the Estonian community in Scotland, Dr Pille Petersoo. On Monday evening the presidential couple will attend a dinner in their honor at the Scottish Parliament.

On Tuesday the president will meet with the Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell, and will then travel to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, for an audience with the monarch. Ruutel will give an interview with the BBC, and then return to Estonia via London.

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus will also meet the Queen on Tuesday.
Adamkus is scheduled to arrive in Edinburgh on Monday, flying in from Chicago after completing a four-day visit to the United States. During his visit, Adamkus will also meet members of the Scottish Parliament and will participate in opening a photographic exhibition by Lithuanian artist Antanas Sutkus. He will be accompanied by a delegation of Lithuanian businessmen. A Lithuanian-Scottish business forum will be held in Edinburgh.