This morning, the official welcoming ceremony of President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri, who are on the State visit to Greece, was held at the Greek Presidential Palace. The Guard of Honour was lined up and the national anthems of the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Greece were played. Constantinos Stephanopoulos, President of the Greek Republic, greeted the Estonian Head of State, Mrs. Helle Meri and the Estonian delegation. The meeting of the two Presidents and also the meeting of the delegations of the two countries focused on bilateral relations as well as the enlargement of the European Union
and NATO and the situation in Kosovo.

The Greek President confirmed Greece’s warm relations with Estonia, of which also Greece’s non-recognition policy of the Soviet occupation once gave proof. Greece also reiterated her support to the enlargement of the EU and NATO. According to the Greek side, the enlargement of the EU will further promote also the dynamics within the Union.

President Meri also thanked the Greek President for the warm reception; as he said, the Estonian flags flying on all the main streets of Athens prove once again that Estonia is not unknown and has not been neglected during her long time behind the iron curtain. As the Estonian President said, the accompanying Estonian business delegation has travelled to Greece looking for serious co-operation. According to President Meri, Estonia’s business interests are connected to our foreign policy interests, which first and foremost mean the accession to the European Union and NATO.

Speaking of Kosovo, the Greek President mentioned that as a state situated on the Balkans, Greece is in a complicated situation and has founded her Kosovo policy on the principle that neighbours, also the Serbians, should be treated with consideration. Therefore, Greece does not participate in the NATO mission. Presidents Stephanopoulos and Meri reiterated that it is urgent to find a solution to the problems of Kosovo. As President Meri said, we are not talking about Kosovo crisis, but Kosovo war, where one million people have lost their homes and homeland and are waiting for a chance to return safely to safe homes.

Also the bilateral agreements on cultural co-operation, co-operation in the field of tourism and in the field of road transport were signed in the presence of the two Presidents.

President Meri invited the Greek President to the State visit to Estonia.

The meeting with President Stephanopoulos was followed by a trip to Piraeus, where President of the Republic opened the Honorary Consulate of Estonia in the rooms of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Odysseus Square in Piraeus. George Kassimatis, President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will soon start his work as the Honorary Consul of Estonia. At the opening ceremony of the Honorary Consulate, President Meri held a speech in which he invited the Greek people to establish closer ties with Estonia.

Before noon, Mrs. Helle Meri visited Vari, where she paid a visit to the local SOS-Kinderdorf and delivered the gift of toys from the Estonian companies Lohu lelu and Norma.

The State visit of the President of the Republic and Mrs. Helle Meri will continue in Pireus, where they are going to meet Stavros Soumakis, the Greek Minister of Merchant Fleet. Tonight, the President of Greece will host a festive dinner in honour of the Estonian presidential couple.


Kadriorg, May 24, 1999
Press Service of the Office of the President

back | archive of press releases | main page