President Lennart Meri received Ashot Hovakimian, the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Estonia, who came to present his credentials, in the presidential palace of Kadriorg today.

When presenting his credentials, the Armenian Ambassador said that the relations between Estonia and Armenia, two countries situated at different ends of Europe, have been close for centuries – on the nineteenth century, Tartu was the educational centre for Armenians, and it was from Estonia that Hachatur Abovyan got the idea to modernise his nation's ancient culture. The Ambassador regretted that although at the beginning of the new era ten years ago, it was believed that the relations between Estonia and Armenia would become even closer, they have still remained on a modest level.

The Ambassador recognised Estonia’s success in accession to the European Union and expressed his hope that also the South Caucasian states would integrate with the European structures in the future. The Armenian Ambassador thanked Estonia for support and for the opportunity provided to the couple of thousand Armenians living here to follow their cultural and religious traditions. Ambassador Hovakimian also forwarded the greetings of the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, and the Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan, who had visited Estonia recently.

On the meeting of the President and the Ambassador, developments in the region of Caucasus were also discussed on a wider plane. As President Meri said, Estonia hopes that Armenia's plans for the future will become a reality.

The Armenian Ambassador resides at Warsaw, and on today's ceremony of presenting the credentials, he was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Armenia in Estonia Garik Ikonyan.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 5, 2000

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