PRESS RELEASE, October 15, 1997.

The Prime Minister meets with U.S. Senators.

Prime Minister Mart Siimann met before noon today with two RepublicanU.S. senators. U.S. Senator William Roth (Delaware) and U. S.Senator Robert F. Bennet (Utah) are in Estonia for the secondday. One of their reasons for the visit is to hold discussionson NATO enlargement. Siimann thanked the U.S. via the senatorsfor supporting Estonia over the years and, also, for supportingEstonia's efforts to join NATO. Siimann said that Estonia ispresently undergoing a difficult period of reform implementations.

He stated that at such a time it is extremelyimportant to have a sense of safety and guarantees of securitywhich Estonia's membership in NATO would provide. Another guaranteeof security for Estonia, in Siimann's opinion, is developmentof democracy in Russia.

In his statement, William Roth said that the end of 20th centuryis an era of great hopes as well as great demands. He added thattoday's solutions form the basis for handling security questionsfor a long time to come. Roth said that the U. S. House of Representativeshas adopted many resolutions that express support for the Balticstates, including Estonia's membership in NATO. At the same time,Roth said that there can be no peace and security without Russia'scontribution and participation. He described present NATO-Russianrelations as being regulated by a foundation document that doesnot limit NATO's freedom to enlarge.

The Prime Minister and senators talked about the situation ofnon-citizens in Estonia and the government's steps to simplifygranting of citizenship.

Siimann said that Estonia does have problems with the issue ofnon-citizens, but Estonia is able to solve them.

In Siimann's opinion, the young generation of Russians livingin Estonia have committed themselves to Estonia and see theirway to Europe precisely through Estonia.

Senator Bennet emphasized that the most important thing Estoniacan give to NATO and the world is a government that looks aheadand not back, that is focused on the future and not the past. That will guarantee Estonia's success internationally, Bennetsaid.

The senators were interested in Baltic cooperation under conditionswhere the European Commission has recommended accession negotiationswith Estonia. In Roth's opinion, the three Baltic states shouldwork together closely in order to gain membership to both EU andNATO.

According to Siimann, all Baltic prime ministers share the viewthat it would be ideal for all three countries to receive invitationsto accession negotiations, it would be very good if at least twowere invited, but for only one Baltic country to be invited is welcome, because that one can pull the others along. Siimanngave the senators an overview of Baltic cooperation.
"The Baltic countries are three friendly states that work togetherclosely," he stated.