President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri received Harald V the King of Norway and Queen Sonja, who arrived on a state visit to Estonia, in Kadriorg this morning.

After the official welcoming ceremony in front of the President's Office in Kadriorg, a meeting took place between Their Majesties and President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri. President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri conferred upon Their Majesties the Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Terra Mariana and the I Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, and handed over the present to Their Majesties: Lea Valter's tapestry ''The Games of Kihnu''.

The Royal Couple of Norway conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olaf upon the Estonian Head of State and Mrs. Helle Meri and handed over a present consisting of objects of fine glass from the Hadeland glass workshop in Norway.

On the meeting between King Harald V and Queen Sonja and the President of the Republic of Estonia and Mrs. Helle Meri the relations of Estonia and Norway and the subject of NATO were discussed; Norway's position on the latter subject is that the Baltic States must decide themselves about the means by which they ensure their security. His Majesty King Harald and the President of the Republic also discussed the recent events in Russia, as the problems of Russia have a wider influence on international developments.

At 1 PM, Their Majesties and President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri had a private dinner, and thereafter a tour in the Old Town of Tallinn is going to take place.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 31, 1998

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