President Lennart Meri today had a meeting with Charles Clark, Minister of State of State for the Home Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in London. Charles Clark and his spouse offered lunch to President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri at Lancaster House in the name of Her Majesty's Government. In addition to Charles Clark and his spouse Carol Pearson, also the Cochairs of the British-Estonian All-Party Parliamentarian Group Jane Griffith and Lembit Öpik, and representatives of other British government offices participated in the lunch.

On the meeting, the co-operation between the British Home Office and the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs was discussed, with an emphasis on co-operation of the police and rescue services and the prevention of drugs. Concrete steps for the future were agreed. The Minister of State of State for the Home Department Charles Clark has visited Estonia several times, and has as a simple MP been an active member of the British-Estonian All-Party Parliamentarian Group.

This afternoon, President Meri pays a visit to the University of London. The Rector Chris Llewellyn-Smith introduced to the Estonian delegation the administration of the University, and the President visited the School of Fine Arts and the School of Electrical Engineering, and will have a meeting with the Estonian professors and students. This evening, Lennart Meri will deliver a lecture ''Estonia is Preparing for the European Union: Changes and Reforms'' at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies.

Chris Llewellyn-Smith, Rector of the London University, will host a dinner in honour of President Meri.

President Lennart Meri's working visit to Great Britain will continue on Thursday, when President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri are going to meet His Royal Highness Prince Charles, and pay a visit to Covent Garden that has been restored after the fire. On Friday, President Meri will deliver a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 8, 1999

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