On Russian-Estonian relations

Russian-Estonian relations will be improving, Estonia's President Arnold Ruutel told journalists on Saturday. Answering a question from RIA Novosti, Mr. Ruutel emphasized that he was "satisfied with his visit to Moscow." "We openly exchanged opinions concerning the current problems and, to a large extent, managed to find a common language," Arnold Ruutel said, commenting on the results of his Thursday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said that at his meeting with the Russian President he "expressed an opinion that the relations between the two countries should be much deeper and said that he was willing to facilitate the process." In Arnold Ruutel's opinion, the emphasis in bilateral relations should be laid primarily on developing economic cooperation. "At present, Western countries account for 81 percent of Estonia's foreign trade, with Russia's share being just 3.9 percent," he said. Commenting on other areas of cooperation, Arnold Ruutel pointed to "numerous crimes stemming from continued drugs trafficking across the Russian-Estonian border." Another promising area, in his opinion, is cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, including in the vital field of environmental protection.