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<title>AXWORTHY HOLDS SUCCESSFUL TALKSWITH ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER </title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 4, 1998 No. 145</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY HOLDS SUCCESSFUL TALKS</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">WITH ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy expressed satisfaction with Canada's
increasingly productive relationship with Estonia following a meeting today in
Ottawa with Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Ilves.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Ilves discussed regional security issues relevant to the
Eastern Baltic and closer co-operation in multilateral institutions, particularly
the United Nations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">They also discussed the importance of travel between Estonia and Canada by
citizens of both countries, especially by family members of the significant
Estonian community in Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada appreciates the warm and useful dialogue we are able to maintain with the
government of Estonia," said Mr. Axworthy. "We welcome Estonia's perspective on
the promotion of regional security in Europe."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy noted Canada's interest in expanding trade and investment with
Estonia, and stressed the potential of the Arctic Bridge project to provide a
regular transport link between Churchill, Manitoba, and Tallinn, Estonia, via
Murmansk, Russia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Ilves was on a one-day official visit to Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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