The President of Estonia met the President of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis in Valka today. The mutual relationships of the two states, also the issue of the border between the two states, the co-operation of Estonia and Latvia in joining the European Union, the relationships with neighbouring countries and also the agenda of the meeting of the three Baltic Presidents to be held in the Riga Palace on 12 May were discussed in the meeting.
The dimension of the North was also discussed in the meeting. According to President Meri, the meridian on which Estonia and Latvia are situated must be considered more profoundly in addition to the Soviet-time thinking in the terms of East and West.
In answer to a journalist's question about the relationships between the Baltic States and Russia, President Meri answered that there have always been problems between neighbours and they will exist also in the future, but considering that Russia is and always will be our neighbour in the East, the relationships with Russia should be as good as possible. The President repeated the three principles that have also been acknowledged by the leaders of Russia – our states are interested in mutually beneficial relationships, which are based on international law and both parties wish for co-operation projects with a long-term perspective.
According to President Meri, Valga-Valka reminds him of Berlin, when Berlin was divided by a wall, then on the basis of the two friendly languages of Valga-Valka. After the meeting the Presidents of Estonia and Latvia took a walk in the Savienibas Street in Latvian Valka. President Meri expressed his hope that the President and Government of Latvia will find a solution for securing the social guarantees of the Estonian citizens who live in Latvia and that the President had no doubt that they would be found within 2-3 months.
In this meeting the Presidents recalled the need to write a common schoolbook about the history of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which was first discussed in 1993.

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