President Lennart Meri received Christopher John Butler, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of New Zealand, who came to present his credentials, in the presidential palace of Kadriorg today.

The Ambassador emphasised that Estonia's importance to New Zealand has increased, and pointed out that for the first time, New Zealand has appointed an Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia from an Embassy situated in an European Union member state. Ambassador Butler resides in The Hague, and is also the Ambassador of New Zealand to the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

To characterise the tightening relations between the two countries, the Ambassador pointed to the recently published economic figures, indicating that the export of Estonian sports equipment to New Zealand has grown tenfold during last year. He added that the success of Estonian sportsmen on the Sydney Olympics could also have played its role in this development.

President Meri recalled his meetings with the leading statesmen of New Zealand and expressed an opinion that although the growth rate of the export of Estonian sports equipment to New Zealand could hardly be expected to match this year's increase again, the relations between the two countries are becoming closer.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 19, 2000

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