| |
 | Press Releases | | |
The President of the Republic met with the Chairman of the Italian Senate22.11.2002
President Arnold Rüütel this morning in Rome discussed with Marcello Pera, the Chairman of the Upper House of the Italian Parliament - Senate, the issue of future relations between Estonia and Italy.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate congratulated President Rüütel on the honorary doctorate conferred on him the day before in Naples. "I have always admired you for your personal role in restoring Estonia's independence and developing international relations," said Senator Pera. He assured that Estonia could count on Italy's all-round support. Both the Estonian Head of State and the Chairman of Senate voiced confidence that Estonia's forthcoming accession to NATO and hopefully soon to the European Union, too, would create new opportunities for developing relations between Estonia and Italy, and for promoting trade and cultural contacts. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress of bilateral training programmes but, notably, of language teaching. President Rüütel emphasized : "Culture is the strongest material for building bridges between two countries."
Talking about the future of Europe, they touched upon the issues of Kaliningrad and the European Union. According to President Rüütel, it was excellent that the candidate countries had been included into discussions about the European Union's future, however, the final decisions, in the interests of balanced development, should be made jointly after the enlargement.
Senator Marcello Pera voiced a hope that the role of national parliaments in the European Union would gain in importance. In addition, he highly appreciated the deepening co-operation between the Estonian and Italian Parliaments and their committees.
The meeting took place in the same room of the Senate's building where, in 1948, the Constitution of the Republic of Italy had been signed.
Today at noon, President Rüütel is going to visit St Birgitta Convent and meet with Mother Tekla, the Head of the Brigittine Order. In the afternoon, our Head of State will leave Rome and fly to Vilnius where he, tomorrow, will participate in a meeting of the Presidents of the USA and the Baltic States.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 22, 2002
|
| |
|
vpk.ee
