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The President of the Republic is on an official visit to Kazakhstan02.06.2004
 President Arnold Rüütel today met with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Their meeting addressed possibilities for developing relations between Estonia and Kazakhstan.
President Rüütel put forward economy as a promising area of cooperation, notably, with regard to transit sector and building materials industry but also to cultural and tourism ties. On top of that, the need for cooperation caused by today's threat of terrorism was under discussion. The Estonian Head of State also emphasized that it would be in the interests of all countries, from the European Union to China, should all CIS countries, including Russia, implement internationally accepted transport and customs policies.
Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo, Minister of Culture Urmas Paet and Governor of Eesti Pank Vahur Kraft gave brief overviews of their areas of responsibility. State Secretary Heiki Loot presented projects and practices of the Estonian E-state.
According to the President of Kazakhstan, the visit of the Estonian Head of State gave a new strong impetus to the development of relations between the two countries. President Nazarbayev underlined Kazakhstan's interest in enlivening trade with Estonia and, through Estonia, with other North European countries as well. The Kazakh Head of State also recollected his visit to Estonia in 1994, during which he had had an opportunity to get acquainted with the potential of Estonian ports.
President Nazarbayev in addition provided an overview of several reforms underway in his country aimed at both stimulating economic growth in general and furthering certain spheres, such as housing construction, in particular.
At a ceremony following the talks between the delegations, the Estonian ministers together with their Kazakh counterparts signed intergovernmental agreements. Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo signed an agreement on cooperation in combating organised and other forms of crime, and Minister of Culture Urmas Paet signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of culture and humanities.
Subsequent to a press conference, Ivar Tallo, a representative of the Estonian E-academy, presented to the delegation of Kazakhstan various projects for the development of information society in Estonia (ID Card, "Village Road", "Look @World", E-legislation, E-government etc.), in which President Nazarbayev took a lively interest.
The President of the Republic expressed delight that on his visit he was accompanied by a record large 35-member business delegation. Speaking at an Estonian-Kazakh business seminar, the Estonian Head of State said that this kind of lively interest undoubtedly created good preconditions for our future cooperation.
 Yesterday President Rüütel familiarized himself with the general plan of Kazakhstan's capital Astana and visited the outlook tower Baiterek in the centre of the city lying in a steppe landscape. The height of the tower - 97 metres - symbolizes a period of massive construction in the development of Astana, which started in 1997 due to the relocation of the Kazakh capital from Almaty to Astana.
The President of the Republic tomorrow will continue his visit in the City of Almaty, where he is scheduled to meet the Mayor, attend a business seminar and visit the mountain ski resort "Chimbulak".
President Rüütel will return from Kazakhstan to Estonia tomorrow, late in the evening.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 2, 2004
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