Memorial Day in Tallinn

Time: 13:29, 08.05.2007

(originally found here) Today, members of the Government and foreign ambassadors and diplomats based in Tallinn attended a special laying of wreaths at Maarjamäe memorial ground for the Estonian units who fought in defence of their country. Also, a special remembrance was held for all who lost their lives as victims of repressions perpetrated by occupying forces. This was the last of the Memorial Day events. The Defence Minister, Mr. Jaak Aaviksoo, when addressing the journalists at the Maarjamäe memorial ground said the following: “Today is a special day for us because in addition to it being the day for celebrating the end of World War II, it also lays to rest the tension surrounding the Bronze Soldier monument.” “The Bronze Soldier at its new home in the cemetery of the Estonian Defence Forces is now truly a symbol of our mutual grief and loss, and not opposition, as it was formerly at Tõnismägi,” underlined the minister “The presence of foreign ambassadors at the monument of the unknown soldier here today is a sign of this reconciliation,” the minister added. Estonia, together with Europe and the United States of America, celebrates the end of World War II today, by remembering all of those who died during World War II and honouring those who helped to defeat Nazism in Europe. Earlier this morning, members of the Government, representatives of the Jewish community, and foreign ambassadors and diplomats based in Tallinn, attended a special laying of wreaths at the holocaust memorial in Klooga. The Ministry of Defence has accredited 109 foreign journalists, photographers, and camera personnel to cover the Memorial Day events. The following TV channels were represented: BBC, TV 4 from Sweden, Nelonen from Finland, YLE from Finland, Russia Today TV, Ren TV from Moscow, and ZDF from Germany. The news agencies and press included Associated Press, Helsingin Sanomat, Svenska Dagbladet, The Times, Komsomolskaja Pravda and Kommersant, as well as several Finnish, Swedish, and Latvian newspapers. National broadcasters from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, and Ireland had also expressed their interest in covering the Memorial Day events. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Public Affairs Department Telephone no.s: 717 0024 and 7170 078 E-mail: press@kmin.ee