June 4, 1998 No. 145

AXWORTHY HOLDS SUCCESSFUL TALKS

WITH ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

Mr. Ilves was on a one-day official visit to Canada.

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