The President of the Republic received HE Bader Omar al-Dafa, Ambassador of Qatar to Estonia at Kadriorg today.

At the meeting the Ambassador of Qatar handed over to President Meri his Emir’s invitation to visit Qatar. Ambassador al-Dafa expressed a hope that during the visit of the Estonian head of state to Qatar initial agreements on economic cooperation between the two countries could be signed. The Ambassador also expected that the delegation accompanying the Estonian President during his visit to Qatar would include representatives of Estonian business quarters.
According to Bader Omar al-Dafa, such a visit would stimulate mutual state and private interests and open up commercial opportunities for both Estonia and Qatar.

In a fair and friendly atmosphere as the meeting proceeded, closer attention was given to matters concerning the cultures of the two countries. At the Ambassador’s initiative possibilities of Arab cultural outreach to Estonia were discussed; by way of example the Ambassador mentioned the prospective construction of a mosque in Tallinn, which at the moment is mainly held back through lack of funds.

The Ambassador of Qatar was also interested in the translation of Lennart Meri’s books into Arabic, for which he asked the President’s permission. According to the Ambassador there is a great interest in that in Qatar.

Notes were also compared on the strained situation that has built up in the Persian Gulf region. The Ambassador says Qatar believes that a solution to the confrontation between the United States and Iraq will be found within a few days.


Information Service of the President’s Office
Kadriorg, 19 November 1997

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