President Lennart Meri sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus yesterday in Washington. President Meri expressed his deep satisfaction at the European Commission's decision to recommend that Latvia nad Lithuania be invited to start accession negotiations for European Union membership.

The President wrote that his meetings in Washington during the past few days have reinforced his conviction, that the three Baltic states have to work closely together. Our strength lies in our unity, the President wrote. ''If we support each other and together strive for EU and NATO membership, I am convinced that we will be able to reach these goals much sooner than by acting individually,'' the President said in the letter.

The President of Estonia said, that the Commission has given Latvia and Lithuania strong, positive signal and in turn he has received positive indications in Washington as regards NATO membership for our countries. The President wrote to his colleagues to build on this positive momentum and to strengthen the trilateral cooperation so that we may achieve our common aims.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 15, 1999

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