ESTONIAN PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR VISIT TO ARMENIA

Baltic News Service
November 12, 2004

TALLINN, Nov 12 — Estonian President Arnold Ruutel will Saturday
leave for an official visit to Armenia.

Ruutel is scheduled to meet with Armenian head of state Robert
Kocharyan on whose invitation the visit is taking place, a spokesman
for the president’s office informed BNS.

Relations between the two countries, neighborhood policy of the
European Union vis a vis Armenia and Armenia’s relations with Russia
will be discussed at the meetings during the visit. Development of
mutual cultural and economic cooperation will be in special focus.

On Sunday, Ruutel will visit the Garni Temple, the Geghard Monastery
and the Sergei Paradzhanov Museum where culture ministers of Estonia
and Armenia will sign a bilateral cultural cooperation agreement.

On Monday Ruutel will meet with Kocharyan, Speaker of the Armenian
National Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan and Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan.

Afterwards, Ruutel will visit the genocide museum and lay a wreath
at the genocide monument. Later on the same day he will open an
Estonian-Armenian business seminar.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his wife Bella Kocharyan will
Monday give a festive dinner in Arnold and Ingrid Ruutel’s honor.

Tuesday President Ruutel will deliver a lecture, Estonia and Armenia
in Europe, at Yerevan University, visit the old manuscripts museum
of the Matendaran Institute, see the display of the Armenian National
Museum and the Yerevan brandy distillery.

Tuesday afternoon the Estonian head of state will meet with the head
of the Armenian church, Katholikos Karekin II, and see the Echmiadzin
Armenian Cathedral.

The official delegation accompanying the president on the visit
includes, among others, Culture Minister Urmas Paet, Regional Affairs
Minister Jaan Ounapuu, State Secretary Heiki Loot, Jarva County
Governor Ullar Vahtramae, Tartu University Rector Jaak Aaviksoo and
Mayor of Tartu Laine Janes.

Besides, the president will be accompanied by a business delegation
of 11, headed by board chairman of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Toomas Luman.

Ruutel will return to Estonia on Tuesday, November 16.

President Kocharyan made an official visit to Estonia in June 2002.