President Lennart Meri received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic Vladislav Labudek, who came to present his credentials, in the Kadriorg Presidential Palace today.

The Ambassador forwarded the greetings of the President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel and told that the Czech President is looking forward to the state visit of the head of state of Estonia to the Czech Republic in the end of May. Ambassador Labudek said that his first and most important task is to launch the work of the Tallinn Embassy of the Czech Republic, because the Czech Ambassador had been residing in Helsinki until now. The Ambassador said that it is very important that an embassy of the Czech Republic is now open in Tallinn as Estonia also has an embassy in Prague. The Ambassador added that the main emphasis in the development of mutual relationships is on issues concerning the European Union and security, also on the development of economic and trade relations and consular issues.

President Meri said he was very glad that the national flag of the Czech Republic can now be seen in Tallinn as well. The President said that the histories of the two states have a lot in common and fortunately Estonia and the Czech Republic will also have a lot in common in the future as good partners and members of the European Union and NATO. The President also said he was happy that the Czech Republic opened an embassy in Tallinn, because it will help Estonian people to resolve the problems that have arisen in communication with the Czech Republic.

The President of Estonia and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic both believe that the relationships between Estonia and the Czech Republic should be so frequent as if the two states had a common border. Preparation of the state visit and creation of the embassy were also discussed at the meeting.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 11, 2000

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