Chirac Underlined French Support to Estonia on EU and NATO Course

French President Jacques Chirac payed a state visit to Estonia. In meetings with Estonian President Lennart Meri and the Prime Minister Mart Laar he underlined that France actively supports Estonia's accession to the European Union. Chirac hopes that Estonia will conclude accession talks by the end of the next year, in order to take part in elections to the European parliament as a full member. "I have to admit that so far Estonia has had no need for French support, Estonia's reform policy has been excellent and it is therefore among the front-runners," the French head of state said. Chirac also emphasized that he accepts Estonia's choice to accede to NATO. "The French position is that each country is free to choose an alliance that suits it," Chirac told. He said that France takes a positive view of the Baltic countries' choice to seek membership in NATO, but also underlined that enlargement of the alliance must not lead to new dividing lines and no one should take this as an aggression. According to Chirac political relations between the two countries are good and also French culture is represented in the Baltic countries. "But we do not have an economic presence here and it requires a serious effort to achieve a position of great potential on the markets," the French head of state said. Chirac said France was grateful for what Estonia had done in the teaching of French and added that President Lennart Meri has a full command of French. As to the Baltic countries’ embassy buildings Chirac said that "It was the only controversial issue between France and the Baltic countries and I am very glad that we have settled the problem."