President Lennart Meri met Italy’s Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini in Rome yesterday. “We already know a little about Estonia, but we want to know more,” said Dini at the beginning of the meeting.

The issue of abolishing the requirement of visas was raised at the meeting. The Italian Foreign Minister said Italy had already raised the issue at meetings of the Schengen countries, but he promised to do it again. According to Dini, Italy’s attitude to visa freedom with Estonia is favourable. The Estonian head of state invited Mr Dini to Estonia to get acquainted with the Estonian border arrangement, in particular with the computerization thereof.

Speaking of NATO enlargement, Mr Dini assured that Italy understood Estonia’s aspiration to join NATO very well, and it also realized how that would strengthen the positions of the Baltic countries. Mr Dini said he had the information that the interests of the Baltic states would be given serious consideration at the NATO summit of 1999.

President Meri emphasized the importance of a North-South balance in NATO enlargement. The Estonian Foreign Minister, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who accompanied the President at the meeting, acquainted the Estonian head of state with the homework done in Estonia for NATO membership.

Italy welcomed the heavy decision made by the Estonian Riigikogu on the abolition of capital punishment. Estonia expressed a wish for Italy to counsel Estonia in the course of EU negotiations. Dini thought it a good idea and gave his full support to it. According to Dini’s personal opinion the negotiations should not cause any problems for Estonia.

Mr Dini reiterated Italy’s satisfaction with Estonia’s economic success and affirmed that Italy is eager to strengthen economic ties. As an expert on economics, Lamberto Dini advised Estonia to think of saving, saying that any step to increase domestic saving would be welcome.


Press Service of the President’s Office
Kadriorg, 27 March 1998

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