President Lennart Meri received Jan Kavan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in Kadriorg at noon today. The Estonian President thanked the Czech Republic for the support to Estonia's NATO aspirations. The President also welcomed the decision of the Czech Republic to open their Embassy in Tallinn.

Foreign Minister Kavan in his turn confirmed that the Czech Republic has supported and will continue to support the NATO open doors policy, and is convinced that the Baltic States must join NATO. Kavan also praised the Estonian-Czech co-operation, which has acquired a new dimension in connection with the EU enlargement negotiations.

Co-operation in the field of education, also between the universities of Tartu and Prague, was also discussed. President Meri thanked for the invitation to a state visit to the Czech Republic next spring, and as the Czech Foreign Minister said, President Meri is most welcome to the Czech Republic.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 19, 1999

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