Ilves will go to a train trip to Latvia next week

TALINN - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mrs. Evelin Ilves start a three-day state visit to Latvia, going there on board a train that departs from Tallinn at 7:53 a.m. on June 5, Postimees Online reports.

The Tallinn-Tartu express train's two carriages will be reserved for the Estonian official delegation, business delegation and journalists. It will make all the usual stops on the Tallinn-Tartu route. Then there is a stop in Valga and at 13:31 the train arrives at the Riga Central Train Station.

President Ilves wishes to stress at the visit the importance of the connecting ways of the two neighbors and allies with the rest of Europe, mainly meaning the Rail Baltic railway route.

President Ilves will have meetings with Latvian President Andris Berzins, parliament speaker Solvita Aboltina, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs, will open an Estonian-Latvian business forum.

President Ilves will host a reception on board Tallink's ship Silja Festival that sails on the Riga-Stockholm route.

During the state visit, Ilves will be accompanied by Economy and Communications Minister Juhan Parts, Riigikogu Foreign committee Chairman Marko Mihkelson, Head of the Defense Forces, Brigade General Riho Terras and a 22 member business delegation.