Lennart Georg Meri

1. Lennart Georg Meri  (29. March 1929 – 14. March 2006)

2. Who was he? • Lennart Georg Meri was a known writer, film director, a great politician, the second president of Estonia and a leader of the Estonian independence movement. • He was elected as the president of Estonia twice. • Lennart developed Estonias economics, culture and politics. • LennartMeri was chosen the European of the Year in 1998 by French newspaper La Vie.

3. Childhood and education • Lennartleft Estonia, withhis family at an early age. • In addition to his native Estonian, LennartMeri fluently spoke five other languages: • Finnish • French • German • English • Russian • Later he studied in the University of Tartu.

4. Life as a writer and a filmmaker • He started writing as a student. • “Tulemägede maale” (To the Land of Fiery Mountains) • “Virmaliste väraval” (At the Gate of Northern Lights) • “Hõbevalge” (Silverwhite) • “Lähenevad rannad” (Nearing Shores) • “Hõbevalgem” (Silverwhiter) • His best known book was “Hõbevalge” • He made movies about Finno-Ugric nations : • "Veelinnurahvas“ • "Linnutee tuuled“ • "Kaleva hääled“ • "Toorumi pojad“ • "Šamaan"

5. In 1990 Lennart Meri was appointed to the post of foreign minister. Lennart Meri’s first task was to create the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He established an open communication channel to the West. Thanks to him Estonia gained recognition from other countries when Estonia regained independence in 1991. On the 6th of October in 1992, he became the 2nd president of Estonia. Later, in 1996, he was re-elected for a second and a final term. In 1994 he negotiated and signed the contract with Boris Yeltsin, that the Russian army will leave Estonia. Accomplishments as a politician and a president

6. Family • LennartMeri was married twice. • His first wife Regina Meri gave birth to Mart Meri (1959) and Kristjan Meri (1966) • With his second wife Helle Meri he had a daughter Tuule Meri (1985)

7. The winds of milky way • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9vHVArCx8E