President Meri in his welcoming address said that when Estonia, a small country, became a member of the European Union it would have a similar role there as Belgium, which is a small country too. Meri thanked the Ambassador of Belgium for his country's support to Estonia on its way towards EU membership. Now Estonia has set course to joining NATO, he went on to assert.

During the meeting that followed the presentation of credentials the Estonian head of state and the Belgian ambassador discussed NATO enlargement at a greater length, also touching on the Estonian-Russian border treaty. Ambassador Guillaume wondered why Russia was reluctant to sign a border treaty; the President praised the sound functioning of the Estonian state border. Police cooperation of the two countries was another topic at the meeting.

In order to increase mutual investment, Estonia and Belgium ought to sign an agreement on the prevention of double taxation, both gentlemen agreed, and the ambassador recommended that Estonia should send officials of its Ministry of Finance to Belgium to arrange that.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, 5 February 1998

back | archive of press releases | main page