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The President of the Republic's state visit to Hungary has begun11.09.2002
 President Arnold Rüütel's and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel's state visit to Hungary began this morning in Budapest with an official welcoming ceremony in the square in front of the Hungarian Parliament. The Estonian Head of State and the delegation accompanying him were welcomed by the President of Hungary, Ferenc Mádl, and Mrs Dalma Mádl. Thereafter, the Estonian Head of State was shown the building of the Hungarian Parliament that, according to Ferenc Mádl, was very expressively symbolizing Hungary with its 1100-year history. At the meeting of the two Heads of State, the Estonian President presented the Hungarian President with the Collar of the Order of the White Star and Mrs Dalma Mádl with the I Class Order of the White Star. The Hungarian Head of State conferred on President Rüütel the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. President Rüütel gave his colleague as a gift serigraphs "Horizons" and "Southern Fruits" by Estonian artist Malle Leis.
At the subsequent meeting between the Presidents and delegations President Mádl said: "Hungary for decades, even for centuries, has been watching the fight of the Estonians for their independence and in the name of developing their culture. We have valued your efforts very highly." President Mádl voiced his hope that the state visit, which started today, gave the development of our present close relations a fresh impetus.
President Rüütel thanked Hungary and President Mádl both for the invitation and for having supported Estonia throughout most testing times, and voiced his satisfaction that the cultural and economic contacts between our two countries had made great strides. However, the Estonian Head of State stressed that there were many unused chances of promoting, above all, our economic relations. "I believe that this is the very excellent basis for the following co-operation between our countries, for which also the expanding European Union will create new preconditions," President Rüütel said. Estonia, as assured by the Estonian Head of State, was very interested in deepening our economic contacts outside the European Union and the Baltic Sea region as well. According to him, one proof of that was the fact that on his state visit he was accompanied by a business delegation. President Rüütel thanked Hungary for supporting Estonia in its preparations for joining NATO and in developing Estonia's defence capabilities.
President Mádl noted that, just like the European Union, also NATO was developing. "It is crucial to this end that the Baltic States, too, belonged to NATO. Hungary is supporting it without any reservations," President Mádl emphasized.
The Presidents of Hungary and Estonia shared the view that the Finno-Ugrian peoples living in independent states can and just must do more to support their kindred peoples.
 During the meeting, the Hungarian Minister of Finance, Csaba Lászlo, and the Estonian Secretary of State, Aino Lepik von Wirén, signed the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Hungary for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital. In Presidents' opinion, this event was important to the development of economic relations between Estonia and Hungary for, as noted by President Mádl, there was a host of unused possibilities to increase the Estonian-Hungarian trade. He added that, along with the Ministry of Economy, also the Hungarian Ministry of Informatics would be engaged in expanding the sphere of co-operation.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, September 11, 2002
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