On November 1 through 3, 2011, a delegation of St.Petersburg, headed by V.N.Kichedzhi, Vice-Governor of St.Petersburg, visited Mariehamn City – the capital of the Aland Islands (Republic of Finland), to join the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the city. Mariehamn was founded in 1861 by the Russian Emperor Alexander II and named in honor of his spouse – the Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
On November 1 through 3, 2011, a delegation of St.Petersburg, headed by V.N.Kichedzhi, Vice-Governor of St.Petersburg, visited Mariehamn City – the capital of the Aland Islands (Republic of Finland), to join the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the city. Mariehamn was founded in 1861 by the Russian Emperor Alexander II and named in honor of his spouse – the Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
The central event of the visit was opening a bronze statue of Maria Alexandrovna, created by Alexander Kovalchuk, People’s Artist of Russia, in the city center as a gift from St.Petersburg.
Another gift to Alanders was a concert of the performers from Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre and the musical group “Bis-Quit”.
During the visit, V.N.Kichedzhi conversed with Mr R. Nordlund, Speaker of the Parliament of Åland Islands, with Mr E.Wikström, Mayor of Mariehamn, and Mrs B.Eriksson, Prime Minister of Government of the Aland Islands. Following the talks with the Prime Minister, a protocol on cooperation was signed, which provided for the development of cultural and tourist exchanges between Åland Islands and St.Petersburg.
News Source: St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations