President Lennart Meri received Max van der Stoel, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Kadriorg today.

On the meeting the President and the OSCE High Commissioner discussed the situation in the Balkans. Max van der Stoel mentioned having already a year and half ago drawn the attention of the great powers to the possible escalation of the situation in Kosovo. The High Commissioner said that this Sunday he would travel to Macedonia in order to prevent a possible conflict there.

President Lennart Meri emphasised that the Estonian people very concerned about the Kosovo events, and that it is paramount to prevent the expansion of the military conflict in the Balkans.

Also the subject of the OSCE Mission in Estonia was discussed, and the President underscored that it is important to reflect the positive developments in Estonia also in the relations between Estonia and OSCE.


Kadriorg, May 7, 1999
Press Service of the Office of the President

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