PRESIDENT DE MARCO MEETS PRIME MINISTER MART LAAR

The President of Malta Prof Guido de Marco today met the Prime Minister of Estonia Mart Laar. The meeting with Prime Minister Laar was held on the second day of the state visit that the President of Malta, accompanied by Mrs de Marco, is carrying out in Estonia. During the meeting President de Marco and the Estonian Premier discussed matters of common interest between the two countries. Prime Minister Laar referred to his recent visit to Malta and spoke of the Estonian government's desire to strengthen co-operation with Malta in different fields such as the economic, commercial, cultural and European Union areas. Prime Minister Laar said that his country looked forward to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries. He also introduced the cabinet's electronic session system to the President of Malta and the Minister for Justice and Local Councils Dr Austin Gatt.

President de Marco referred to the similarities that exist between the two countries not just in a colonial past, but in the fact that the government of both countries have a mandate to seek for their country into the European Union. President Guido de Marco pointed out that the government of Malta's intention was to place the final decision in the hands of the people. In this light, co-operation between Malta and Estonia is not only important in the dimension of bilateral relations but it is also in the wider context of Europe.

In the morning, the Minister for Justice and Local Councils, Dr. Austin Gatt signed an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on behalf of the Maltese Government.

Earlier in the day, President de Marco, laid a wreath at the memorial for teachers and students who perished during the Liberty War. Then, together with the Minister for Justice and Local Councils, visited the Riigikogu (Parliament) of the Republic of Estonia where he was welcomed by the Speaker Toomas Savi. The Speaker of the Riigikogu explained to the President that the Estonian Parliament, like that of Malta was unicameraland housed 101 representatives of the people.

Mr Savi said that the members of Parliament were looking to the year 2004 when the next elections for the European Parliament are to be held, by which time, the Estonian government hopes that the country will have become a member of the European Union.

Following this meeting the President of Malta visited areas of cultural interest in Tallinn. Then, together with his delegation he departed to the university town of Tartu by special train. Here President de Marco visited the Supreme Court and was met by the Chief Justice Uno Lohmus. In the afternoon, President de Marco was interviewed both by Estonian State Television and by the leading newspaper "Postimees" which has the largest circulation in Estonia.

In the evening, President and Mrs de Marco hosted a reception in honour of the President of Estonia and Mrs Helle Meri at the University of Tartu's History Museum.