President Lennart Meri had a meeting with Jose Maria Aznar, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, in Madrid yesterday. In addition to the bilateral relations, also the enlargement of the European Union and NATO were discussed on the meeting.

Discussing the relations of Estonia and Spain, President Meri commended the Prime Minister of Spain on Spain's economic success; as the President said, Estonia has followed the example of Spain in developing her own economic life. President Meri gave a thorough review of the concept of the North Dimension of Europe and invited the Prime Minister of Spain to visit Tallinn. Aznar promised to come, if possible, so as to promote the development of trade and also co-operation in the field of culture. On the meeting, the possibility of signing the Agreement of Cultural co-operation between Estonia and Spain during the visit of the Prime Minister was also considered.

The Estonian President thanked the Prime Minister of Spain for the strong support to the two foreign policy objectives of Estonia. Aznar replied with the promise to continue to support these causes and applauded the excellent work done by Estonia until today. Speaking of the EU enlargement, the Spanish Government leader said that at this stage no enlargement can be foreseen in 2002, as the internal reforms of the EU are still incomplete, but added that nothing is impossible. Aznar emphasised that Estonia herself must make all the preparations necessary for the EU accession. According to President Meri, Estonia has always viewed the internal reforms and the enlargement of the EU together. According to Prime Minister Aznar, Spain would certainly do everything to make Estonia's way into the EU easy.

Speaking of the NATO enlargement and of the forthcoming Washington Summit in April next year, the Spanish Prime Minister mentioned that the discussions of the Washington Summit have not started as yet, but the Summit is bound to take a clear standing. As he said, Estonia has a strong position today. Speaking of the NATO enlargement, Aznar also accentuated the need to complete all the preparatory tasks that depend on Estonia.

On the meeting, which took place after the opening of the Estonian Embassy in Madrid, President Meri said that he would also be glad to see the opening of the Spanish Embassy in Tallinn.

Yesterday afternoon, the President of the Republic participated in a distinguished forum ''New dimensions of Security'', organised by the newspapers ''El Pais'' and ''Le Monde'', and gave a presentation.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 7, 1998

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