President of the Republic received Strobe Talbott, the Deputy State Secretary of the United States of America, who is on a three-day visit to Estonia, at his Viimsi home this evening. President Lennart Meri hosted a dinner in honour of Strobe Talbott, the Deputy State Secretary of the United States of America, and his spouse Mrs. Brook L. Shearer.

On the dinner hosted by the President of the Republic and Mrs. Helle Meri at Viimsi, several current foreign policy issues were discussed, as well as Estonia's development plans for accession to NATO.

Also Ronald D. Asmus, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, as well as the US Ambassador to Estonia Melissa Wells, the Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Minister of Defence Jüri Luik and the Estonian Ambassador to the United States Sven Jürgenson were present at the dinner.

Appreciating Strobe Talbott's services to the Republic of Estonia, President of the Republic has decided to confer to him the I Class Order of the Cross of St Mary's Land. The ceremony of decoration is going to take place at Kadriorg on Monday, January 24 at 11 AM.

On Monday afternoon, President of the Republic and Strobe Talbott will visit the Sakala Centre, where Strobe Talbott is going to deliver a lecture in the memory of Robert C. Frasure, the first US Ambassador to Estonia after the restoration of Estonia's independence.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, January 22, 2000

back | archive of press releases | main page