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Estonian Head of State met the President of Russia

28.06.2008

“The relations between neighbouring countries should be characterised by communication from grassroots level up to the Presidents, and close co-operation,” Estonian Head of State Toomas Hendrik Ilves said at today’s meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation.

The meeting of the two Heads of State in Khanty-Mansiisk lasted nearly an hour and focused on the current relations of the two countries and possible solutions to several problems.

“Estonia is prepared for a straightforward, matter-of-fact and uninterrupted dialogue on all subjects concerning our relations,” President Ilves assured.

According to the Estonian President, issues whose solution would benefit the citizens of both nations – for instance, building of the new Narva highway bridge or the ecological preservation of Lake Peipsi – ought to be in focus in the near future.

President Ilves confirmed that Estonia is prepared to restart the work of the intergovernmental commission concentrating mainly on economic issues. Referring to Estonian-Russian agreements currently under preparation, the President of the Republic of Estonia said that Estonia is prepared to start the negotiations on the so-called war graves agreement, which is certainly important for both the Russian and the Estonian side, and which should ensure researchers of both countries mutual free access to archives in order to search information about the graves of our forefathers.

At the Presidents’ meeting also the issue of the Estonian-Russian border agreement, concluded by the two Foreign Ministers, was addressed. The Estonian Head of State observed that Estonia has completed the ratification of the agreement.

“Once again, I confirm – Estonia has neither territorial nor economic claims to any of her neighbours; Estonia continues to recognise the boundary line agreed by the Foreign Ministers Urmas Paet and Sergey Lavrov who signed the agreement,” President Ilves emphasised.

Also the relations between Russia and the European Union were addressed on the meeting between the Estonian and Russian Head of State; these relations had been discussed in greater detail on the EU-Russia Summit the day before. President Ilves welcomed the start of negotiations on the new framework agreement (PCA) between the European Union and Russia, and it was stated that it is in the interests of both sides to find a solution.

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