President Lennart Meri received Kornelius Sigmundsson, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iceland, who came to present his credentials, at noon in Kadriorg today.

Presenting his credentials, the Ambassador of Iceland emphasised that small countries like Estonia and Iceland have proved to other countries that for independence, the people's yearning for freedom is more important than military strength. Ambassador Sigmundsson forwarded to President Meri the most cordial greetings of Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, the President of the Republic of Iceland. President Grimsson has good memories from his last year's state visit to Estonia and is looking forward to the Estonian President's and Mrs. Helle Meri's counter visit in September this year.

President Meri thanked Iceland for the strong support to Estonia's accession to NATO and the European Union. The Estonian President and the Ambassador of Iceland also discussed the developments in Russia. The Ambassador was accompanied by Jaak Oja, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Iceland in Estonia..

In the afternoon, President Lennart Meri received Dr. Dong-chil Yang, the Ambassador of the Republic of Chorea, who came to Kadriorg to present his credentials.

On the President's meeting with the Ambassador the history of the two countries, the similar sufferings during the wars and occupation were discussed. Chorea has almost overcome the financial crisis and is planning on investments to Estonia. President Meri emphasised the need for co-operation in the field of culture and science between the universities of the two countries. Ambassador Dong-chil Yang mentioned that Chorea had supported the inclusion of the Tallinn Old Town to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 8, 1999

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