The President of the Republic noted that Estonia and Chile should expand cooperation both bilaterally and internationally, and added that Estonia having recently become observer to the Organisation of American States intended to deepen its contacts with South American countries through that organisation as well.
Ambassador Ignacio Gonzales Serrano suggested that economic relations between our two countries should definitely be promoted since Estonia could be a gateway to the Baltic States for Chilean businessmen and Chile, in its turn, a gateway to South American countries for Estonian businessmen.
According to President Rüütel, Estonia was interested in the promotion of bilateral trade, one precondition for which was working out the necessary contractual basis. The President opined that Estonia and Chile, being countries with strong cultural traditions, could certainly offer each other a lot in the field of culture too.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 19, 2004
