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The President of the Republic is on a state visit to Cyprus08.01.2004
President Rüütel today met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos. The Heads of State at their meeting voiced interest in deepening relations between our two countries in various fields. They also agreed that Estonia and Cyprus had very vital common interests concerning accession to the European Union, which already had clearly surfaced at the Intergovernmental Conference.
President Rüütel emphasized that all EU Member States should have equal opportunities to express their positions and be represented in all leading institutions of the European Union. President Papadopoulos pronounced that in order to solve different problems it was necessary to have good will both at domestic and international levels.
The Head of State of Cyprus told the Estonian delegation about the conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities dividing the island, and said that the leadership of the Republic of Cyprus was interested in resuming negotiations based on the peace plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Ministers Margus Leivo, Meelis Atonen and Urmas Paet presented the experience, which Estonia in relevant fields could share with Cyprus, and further possibilities for bilateral cooperation. The interlocutors dealt separately with the issues of environment protection and information technology, in which Estonia in a short time had made great strides.
In accordance with international practice of state visits, also an exchange of decorations took place. During the ceremony, the Cypriot Head of State presented President Rüütel with the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III and the Estonian Head of State his Cypriot counterpart with the Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana.
The President of the Republic met also with the Acting President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dr. Vassos Lyssarides, and the Mayor of Nicosia, Michalakis Zampelas, already for years acting also as Estonian Honorary Consul General. In addition, President Rüütel called at the Archaeological Museum of Nicosia and familiarised himself with Cypriot many millennia old antiquities.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, January 8, 2004
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