PRESS RELEASE, September 5, 1997

Siimann meets with the ambassador of Cabo Verde.

Prime Minister Mart Siimann met today at Toompea with Marly DeMenezes, Cabo Verde's ambassador to the Baltic states and allthe Nordic countries. The Prime Minister and the ambassador talkedabout establishing cooperation between Estonia and Cabo Verdeand the possibility of signing some basic agreements in the future.

Siimann gave an overview of Estonia's economy and the social reformin process and he wanted to know about Cabo Verde's most significantproblems.

Menezes said that Cabo Verde's lack of natural resources forcesthe country to emphasize the service sector and foreign investmentsin its economy.

Siimann and Menezes saw possibilities for the development of cooperationin tourism and fishing between the two countries.

Cabo Verde consists of islands located in the Atlantic Ocean,off the west of Africa. The country is made up of ten large islandsand five small ones. In 1975, Cabo Verde became independent ofPortuguese rule.