President Karis: Excellent relations between Estonia and Sweden open the door to new areas of cooperation
PHOTO: Raigo Pajula
President Alar Karis and Sirje Karis welcomed King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden upon their arrival at Freedom Square in Tallinn today, the first of a three-day state visit by the royal couple to Estonia. There King Carl XVI Gustaf laid a wreath at the foot of the monument to the War of Independence.
After this, President Karis and Sirje Karis met privately with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at Kadriorg, with the Estonian head of state remarking on the fact that the visit was taking place during the year marking the 50th anniversary of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s coronation.
Discussions covered the close relations between Estonia and Sweden and both regional and international cooperation. “The special relationship that our countries share, and the history that comes with it, opens the door to us working together in more and more fields,” President Karis said. “Your state visit will provide impetus for the prompt implementation of the recommendations in the Estonian-Swedish cooperation report, particularly those pertaining to the climate, green energy and the digital sphere.”
President Karis said that Estonia and Sweden’s mutual support and willingness to work together were reflected in pressing foreign and security policy matters. He expressed his hope that Sweden’s accession to NATO would be secured prior to the alliance’s summit being held in Vilnius in July. “Your membership will not only prove important to NATO, but to establishing and then guaranteeing security in the entire Baltic Sea region,” he said.
The Estonian head of state noted that one of Sweden’s priorities during its presidency of the Council of the European Union is to guarantee that multifaceted international support for Ukraine continues.
Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden arrived in Estonia today on a three-day state visit on the invitation of President Alar Karis.
This afternoon, the Swedish royal couple planted a new oak tree in Kadriorg Park before visiting the tree planted there during their first state visit to Estonia in 1992, those planted by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel in 2018 and the oak planted by then King Gustav V in 1929.
Gallery: Raigo Pajula, Office of the President of the Republic