President of the Republic received the delegation of the Australian Parliament, who is visiting Estonia, today in Kadriorg. The Australian delegation of six is led by Sue West, the Vice-Chairman of the Australian Senate.

In his conversation with the Australian peoples' representatives, President Meri emphasised the parallels between the international relations of the European space and the Pacific area. Both sides saw the obvious parallels between Chechnya and East Timor, where the political rhetoric tries to present violent military action as a mere conflict or avoids mentioning it at all. The Vice-Chairman of the Australian Senate described the violent events in East Timor, and spoke in more detail of Australia's contribution to East Timor’s difficult process of acquiring independence.

The President also mentioned the 150 years of history of the Estonians in Australia, and thanked the Australians for making it possible for the Estonians to build a home. Sue West, the Vice-Chairman of the Senate, said in her turn that the society of Australia has gained a lot by the successful work of its Estonian members.

Stephen Brady, the Australian Ambassador to Estonia, was interested in how the Australian diplomats could contribute to bringing the Estonian President's chain of office back from Moscow.

The meeting passed in cordial atmosphere, and Sue West expressed her hope to receive the President in Australia.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 26, 1999

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