Thursday flag day in Estonia in honor of anniversary of Tartu Peace Treaty

TALLINN - Thursday is a flag day in Estonia to mark the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tartu.

On Thursday, all state and local government authorities and legal persons governed by public law were to hoist the Estonian flag to mark the occasion. Everyone else was invited to raise flags as well. Flags are hoisted at 8 a.m. at the latest and lowered at sunset, the Government Office said.

The peace treaty signed in Tartu on Feb. 2, 1920, by the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia ended the War of Independence. Under the treaty, Russia freely and in perpetuity recognized the independence of Estonia.

To mark the occasion, wreath-laying ceremonies were scheduled take place in Tartu at the War of Independence monument at St. Paul's cemetery and at the grave of Julius Kuperjanov and the Liberators of Southern Estonia monument at Raadi cemetery at 9 a.m. on Thursday. A traditional Treaty of Tartu memorial ceremony began at the Kalevipoeg monument in Tartu at 10 a.m. with the participation of Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas, Minister of Education and Research Tonis Lukas, commandant of the Military Academy Brig. Gen. Vahur Karus and representatives of academic organizations. 

At Tartu Peace Square, speeches will be given by the mayor, Urmas Klaas, chairman of the Tartu city council Kaspar Kokk and high school students at 11 a.m. Student councils will place candles at the bas-relief of Jaan Poska, one of the founders of Estonian independence.