President Lennart Meri yesterday began his working visit to the United States of America. Yesterday morning, the President participated at the annual breakfast of the Joint Baltic American National Committee on the Capitol Hill, which was organised in honour of the Baltic Caucus of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Several foreign affairs officials of the Senate participated at the breakfast, where President Meri gave the main presentation. The bilateral relations of Estonia and America were discussed, as well as relations to other Baltic States and the NATO membership of these countries.

Yesterday afternoon, on the invitation of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Estonian President participated in the ceremony of proclaiming the Voice of America radio station an independent federal institution. At the ceremony, the President held a speech where he emphasised the important role of international broadcasting in the restoration of the independence of the Baltic States.

Yesterday evening, the Broadcasting Board of Governors hosted a dinner in honour of the Estonian President.

Today, the President is going to have several meetings with the American foreign policy experts.

President Lennart Meri's speeches at the breakfast of the Joint Baltic American National committee and at the proclamation ceremony of the independent federal status of the International Broadcasting Bureau are available in the Internet on the address www.president.ee.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 14, 1999

back | archive of press releases | main page