The President of the Republic met with the Czech President

Kuumad uudised | 02 May 2002 | EWR

The President of the Republic, Arnold Rüütel, this forenoon in Prague met with the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel.

At the meeting, both sides voiced their gratification at the excellent relationship between the Republic of Estonia and the Czech Republic both in the past and at present. President Arnold Rüütel highlighted, first of all, good cultural relations between our two countries and thanked President Havel for his support to Estonia and the other Baltic States both during the restoration of independence and the ongoing preparations for joining NATO. "President Havel`s strongly voiced stance that the Baltic States should be admitted to NATO has played a crucial role in this process," President Rüütel noted.

Czech President Václav Havel emphasized that the purpose of his meeting with the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania today in Prague was the same as of the former meetings: to underscore that all Baltic states belonged to the same homogeneous area of culture. "By that we would like to demonstrate our support of the Baltic States," Havel said.

According to President Havel, it was important to give all nations freedom of choice in respect of their future. For this reason, he was interested in Estonian residents` attitudes towards accession to NATO and the European Union. Václav Havel also asked if Estonia was intending to hold a referendum.

At noon, the meeting of the three Baltic Presidents with the Czech President started in Prague.

Press Service of the Office of the President Karin Piir

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