President of Iceland to pay state visit to Estonia

On the invitation of President Alar Karis, the Icelandic head of state Halla Tómasdóttir will be on a state visit to Estonia from 19-21 August, accompanied by her husband Björn Skúlason. During the visit, President Tómasdóttir will be meeting with her Estonian counterpart, as well as the President of the Riigikogu and the Prime Minister, and attending events marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence.

The state visit by the Icelandic presidential couple to Estonia reaffirms the close ties of friendship between the two countries, and will boost cooperation between them in the fields of business, innovation, education and culture.

The meetings held during the visit will focus on bilateral relations in these and other spheres, as well as regional security issues, Iceland's relations with the EU, ongoing support for Ukraine and transatlantic relations.

The state visit will begin on Wednesday 19 August with a welcoming ceremony on Town Hall Square in Tallinn. Thereafter, President Tómasdóttir will meet with President Karis, President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar and Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The heads of state will also be taking part in the Estonia-Iceland Business Forum, where they will discuss opportunities for economic and innovation cooperation between their countries.

President Tómasdóttir will also be briefed on the activities of the cyber training grounds and the CR14 Cyber Range, and will lay a wreath at the foot of the monument to the War of Independence.

That evening, President Alar Karis and Sirje Karis will be hosting a state dinner in honour of the Icelandic presidential pair at the Arvo Pärt Centre.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Sirje Karis and Björn Skúlason will be welcomed to the Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies, where the latest innovations in food and biotechnology will be outlined to them. They will then visit the museum and historic tower of St Nicholas' church and the studio of artist Anni Arro.

On Thursday 20 August, both heads of state and their spouses will be attending a ceremonial flag-raising ceremony on Toompea Hill to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence. Presidents Karis and Tómasdóttir will also be attending a special session of the Riigikogu and the 20th of August Club, at which both will deliver a speech. President Karis and Sirje Karis will then host the Icelandic presidential couple at a reception in the rose garden of the Office of the President to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence.

The heads of state will also visit the Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Maarjamäe and Tallinn's TV Tower, and be briefed on the activities of the HK Unicorn Squad and Kuri Kotkas drone programme.

Thereafter they will be greeting the public at a family day being held on Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds to mark the anniversary of the restoration of independence.

On Friday, President Tómasdóttir and her husband will be visiting Pelgulinn State Upper Secondary School in Tallinn, where they will be given an overview of the AI Leap programme for educational reform.

The state visit will end with a farewell ceremony on Iceland Square - a symbolic location named in recognition of Iceland being the first country to recognise Estonia's restored independence.