President Lennart Meri returned late tonight from a working visit to Vilnius, where the Estonian President, the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus had had a traditional meeting. The Presidents discussed the development of the three countries' accession to the European Union and NATO, and other common interests of the three Baltic States. On President Meri's proposal, one of the themes of discussion was the energy circle of the Baltic Sea States. The Presidents of the Baltic States agreed that Baltic solidarity is and shall continue to be an essential principle in strengthening the international position of the three countries. The Presidents expressed their hope that on the next NATO summit, also the membership of the Baltic States would be decided.

President Meri considered the three Presidents' meeting with the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian businessmen important. Estonia's distinguished commercial delegation included the representatives of Hansapank, Merko Ehitus, ESS Group, Eesti Energia, Tallegg, Air Cargo Eesti and Talbok, as well as the representatives of the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Estonian Business Association.

In the Vilnius applied art museum, the Lithuanian President showed the guests the exhibition ''Christianity in Lithuanian Art'', and President Lennart Meri opened the exhibition about the restoration of the works of Eduard Wiiralt arranged by the Estonian National Library in the Mazhvydas Library.

President Meri met members of the Estonian community in Lithuania in the Estonian Embassy in Vilnius and gave an interview to the paper ''Lietuvos Rytas''.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 30, 2000

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