31.05.03 21:00   Russian President Vladimir Putin and the First Lady, as well as foreign heads of states attending St. Petersburg’s tercentenary celebrations, set off for Peterhof from Palace Embankment on board several pleasure cruisers.

31.05.03 19:00   “St. Petersburg is one of the world’s cultural capitals and an important center of Russia’s European life,” stated President Vladimir Putin in opening the river festival on the Greater Neva.

31.05.03 18:20   Vladimir Putin accompanied the heads of state and government of more than forty countries, guests of St. Petersburg, on a tour of the Hermitage to see its treasures.

31.05.03 16:15   In honor of the 300-year anniversary of St. Petersburg, President of Russia Vladimir Putin at an official breakfast proposed a toast “to European solidarity, to the well-being of our nations, and to the guests’ health.”

31.05.03 15:30   Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, together with other national leaders attending the Russia-EU summit, officially opened the Amber Chamber at the Catherine Palace Museum-Reserve at Tsarskoye Selo.

31.05.03 15:05   The leaders of over 40 countries, who have arrived to St. Petersburg to celebrate the 300-year anniversary of the city, took part in the opening ceremony of Constantine Palace.

31.05.03 15:00   The Russian Air Force has begun a massive attack on the approaching storm front heading towards St. Petersburg from Finland.

31.05.03 14:00   President of Russia Vladimir Putin thanked Prime Minister of Hungary Peter Medgyessy for presenting him with a collection of Hungarian wines.

31.05.03 11:45   The political process to settle the situation in Chechnya is developing in parallel with the transfer of law and order functions to local law enforcement agencies, President Vladimir Putin announced.

31.05.03 11:40   President Vladimir Putin stated during the Russia-EU summit in St. Petersburg that Russia is extremely interested in solving the problem of drug trafficking from Afghanistan.