President Lennart Meri received Haesoon Lee, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, who paid a visit to present his credentials, in Kadriorg today.

Delivering the greetings to the President of the Republic and the people of Estonia on behalf of the Korean leaders, Ambassador Lee said that Korea admires the courage, resolution and efficiency that Estonia has shown in building up the democratic society after her independence was restored and in the transition process to market economy. The Ambassador said that the relations established between our two countries have been successful and that he hoped to contribute to the further strengthening of the relations. The Ambassador congratulated Estonia on the invitation to the EU accession negotiations and wished Estonia smooth success in the negotiation process.

President Meri congratulated the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the recent 50th Anniversary and spoke of the role of democracy in building up the nation in Estonia and in Korea. As the President said, Estonians too have fought for democracy in the Korean War.

Speaking of subjects of mutual interest, the Estonian Head of State mentioned the problems of the Northern part of the Korean Peninsula, on which Estonia and Korea obviously have similar views, and the terrorist measures applied there for the protection of totalitarianism and preservation of closed society. The Estonian Head of State and the Ambassador of Korea also mentioned the need to increase the exchange of students between the two countries.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, September 10, 1998

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