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On the visit of the President of the Republic to the Kingdom of Norway12.04.2002
President Arnold Rüütel sees his state visit to the Kingdom of Norway, which ended yesterday late at nigth, to have been very productive and emotional.
Summarizing the visit, the President noted that at his meetings in Norway with His Majesty King Harald and Her Majesty Queen Sonja he had experienced sincere interest in Estonia, its people and in our aspirations.
"We have found amazingly much in common concerning value judgements of the Estonians and the Norwegians. Both peoples have been living under alien powers for a long time and both of them attach great importance to their independence, but the highest value for them is above all their home. In Norway, thanks to Governments wise regional policy, regardless of in whatever corner of the country their homes are located, there is no difference in living conditions of the people," President Rüütel said.
Elaborate regional policy and its influence on balanced development of the country were the subject of discussion at the majority of meetings having taken place in the course of the state visit. In this area, like in so many others, Norway is willing to share its experience with Estonia and to support us. President Rüütel added: "The meetings with the Norway's President of Parliament the Storting Jørgen Kosmo, the Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, and the Minister of Fisheries, Svein Ludvigsen, confirmed that Norway having so far supported Estonia both in word and deed will continue doing it further on. Likewise, we were assured that Norway backed strongly the Estonian efforts to join the European Union and NATO."
The President also voiced his contentment with having been reassured once again that the Norwegians were willing to continue and to deepen economic, environmental and cultural co-operation with us. Due to its location and rapid development, but also as a prospective member of the European Union before too long, Estonia is of interest to Norwegian investors.
At the Estonian-Norwegian business seminar in Oslo, it was noted that in Estonia there were many fields suitable for investments: starting with natural gas and electricity, and ending with bio- and information technology. According to the members of the business delegation, which accompanied the Head of State, the Norwegians had been impressed by Estonia's growing market, low production costs and high educational level of its residents, but equally by our advancing legal basis and infrastructure. The genetics seminar, which took place in parallel to the business seminar, with Estonian and Norwegian scientists participating, had proved that in the gene and biotechnology Estonia was an equal partner both for Norway and and other countries having made progress in this field.
In estimation of the Rector of Estonian Agricultural University, Henn Elmet, having belonged to the official delegation, there was a shortage of information about Estonia in Norway. "I have encountered a very big interest in Estonia in general, but also a more detailed one in our educational and scientific systems in particular. I had to answer questions about our forestry, about usage of environmental and natural resources etc. As for the presentation of our country, this definitely was a very productive visit," rector Henn Elmet summed the visit up.
President Arnold Rüütel both at his meetings in Norway, in his lecture at the Nobel Institute and summarizing the state visit in Tallinn emphasized the need to strengthen the co-operation in the Baltic Sea region ever more. "With the European Union enlarging the need is rather growing," the Head of State noted.
King Harald V of Norway presented President Arnold Rüütel on the occasion of his state visit to Norway with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olaf.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, April 12, 2002
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