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The President of the Republic continues his state visit to Lithuania06.10.2004
President Arnold Rüütel on his state visit to the Republic of Lithuania on Tuesday met with the Chairman of the Lithuanian Saeima, Arturas Paulauskas. The meeting focused on both the bilateral relations between Estonia and Lithuania and the Baltic trilateral cooperation. The President and the Chairman were in agreement that close cooperation between the three Baltic States both within the European Union and in the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States helped defend our common interests and, on top of that, the Baltic cooperation setting an example to several other regions extended the range of foreign activities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Thereafter, the President of the Republic opened a business seminar. The Estonian Head of State in his address said that businessmen had managed to take advantage of the Baltic free trade regime and favourable conditions under several economic agreements. The Head of State acknowledged with appreciation Lithuania's essential role as Estonia's economic and trade partner, highlighting separately that nearly a half of Estonian direct investment abroad had been made in Lithuania. President Rüütel also spoke about infrastructure and energy projects, which are of paramount importance to sustainability of both Estonia's and Lithuania's economic progress. Also President of the Confederation of Lithuanian Industrialists Bronislovas Lubys and Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toomas Luman gave talks at the seminar.
At noon, President Rüütel at Radvilai Palace attended the opening of an exhibition of bronze sculptures and pastel drawings by sculptor Tauno Kangro. The exhibition was opened by Lithuanian Ambassador to Estonia Antanas Vinkus and Estonian Ambassador to Lithuania Andres Tropp. Soprano Pille Lill and tenor Virgilijus Noreika embellished the event with an opera duet. Lithuanian President Adamkus and Prime Minister along with their spouses attended the opening of both the business seminar and the exhibition.
 From Vilnius President Rüütel travelled by helicopter to an airbase of the Lithuanian Air Force near Šiauliai. The Estonian Head of State familiarized himself with the airfield used by NATO and F-16 fighters. Major Sørensen, the commander of the Danish detachment stationed presently at Šiauliai, gave an overview of their work in surveying and policing the airspace of the Baltic States. President Rüütel thanked our NATO partners for their contribution to guarding our common airspace.
Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel in accordance with her special programme visited the Clinic of Santariškiu and familiarized herself with the work of the clinic's heart surgery centre. Mrs. Rüütel also visited the Lithuanian National Museum and met with research fellows at the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore.
Estonian ministers on the fringes of the state visit had meetings with their Lithuanian counterparts. Minister Villu Reiljan met with Lithuanian Minister of the Environment Arūnas Kundrotas, Minister Toivo Maimets with Secretary General of Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Research Dainius Numgaudis, and Minister Margus Leivo with Lithuanian Minister of Internal Affairs Virgilijus Bulovas.
On Tuesday evening President Rüütel arrived in the Town of Druskininkai, where Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and Mrs. Kristina Brazauskiene hosted a dinner in honour of the President of the Republic and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel.
President Rüütel today is touring the Town of Druskininkai and, late in the evening, will arrive back in Estonia.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 6, 2004
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