PETER THE GREAT ASSEMBLIES TO BE HELD IN ESTONIA

TALLINN, February 4 (RIA Novosti's Nikolai Adashkevich) - A press-conference held in Tallinn dealt with the coming first Peter-the-Great--Assembly of Estonia scheduled for February 11-12 in Tallinn and Narva. This event has been organized by the Foundation "Peter the Great Assembly of Estonia" and the Russian House with the participation of the World Club of St. Petersburg Residents. The Club's chairperson Valentina Orlova said at the press-conference that these assemblies ought to serve cooperation and rapprochement between Estonian and Russia, to the development of charity and patronage.

Peter the Great Assemblies of Estonia are planned to become a regular event, with charitable activities to develop culture and support youth initiatives. From 2006, prizes will be given for outstanding contribution to the development of economic and cultural relations between Estonia and Russia.

Funds to be donated by Russian and Estonian sponsors in 2005 will go to restore monuments to Peter the Great's soldiers who perished in the battle of Narva and a monument to Russian sailors from the Rusalka armored carrier, who were killed in Tallinn.

On February 12, Tallinn's Kadriorg palace will be the venue of a Charitable Russian Ball of the Peter the Great Assembly which is expected to restore the spirit and tradition of the past epoch.

Among the guests are the president of the World Club of St.Petersburg Residents, the Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky, Tallinn Mayor Tynis Palts, businessmen and politicians from Estonia and Russia.

Assemblies in Russia date back to the reign of Peter the Great who referred to them as ones not only for amusement but for business "where it was possible to see many people and discuss one's needs".