Baltic News Service
November 16, 2004

ESTONIAN PRESIDENT GIVES OVERVIEW OF EU NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY TO
ARMENIAN LEADERS

TALLINN

Estonian President Arnold Ruutel on Monday met in the course of an
official visit to Armenia with the prime minister of the country,
Andranik Margaryan.

The Estonian head of state gave in the meeting an overview of the
principles of the European Union’s neighbourhood policy which would
be applied also in relations with South Caucasian countries, the
president’s office reports.

The prime minister gave recognition to the regional cooperation of
the Baltic states and spoke about the specifics of Armenia’s
relations with its neighbors.

Ruutel stressed the importance of mutual understanding in this
context and pointed out the possibilities arising from the Minsk
Process for Southern Caucasus countries.

Talking about participation in international Partnership for Peace
programs, Margaryan said Armenia is ready for cooperation with all
NATO member countries.

The president gave an interview to Armenian television speaking about
the possibilities to promote bilateral relations in various areas.

The Armenian head of state, Robert Kocharyan and his wife, Bella,
hosted a dinner in honour of the Estonian presidential couple. In his
speech at dinner, Ruutel said the Estonian society has by now reached
a level that makes it possible to share with others general
conclusions drawn from the reform process. “We also know that Armenia
is a country where the opinion of Estonia is trusted and expected,”
he added.

Kocharyan said it is important for Armenia to establish
goodneighborly relations with all its neighbors. The conflicts taking
place in Southern Caucasus hinder the natural development of the
region, he observed. “Mutually beneficial regional cooperation
facilitates the resolving of conflicts and stable development of the
region, and creates significant potential for further progress. The
best example of this is the cooperation between the countries of the
Baltic region,” he said.

The Estonian president will continue his visit on Tuesday, delivering
a lecture at the University of Yerevan and meeting with the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karegin II. Ruutel will
arrive back in Estonia on Tuesday evening.