OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
PRESS RELEASE
Kadriorg, 31 May 2007
Photos: Erik Peinar

The United States Ambassador presented his credentials to the President of Estonia

Today, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves received the credentials of Dave Philips, the Ambassador of the United States of America.









"The mutual relations between Estonia and the United States have been steadfast and strong since Estonia became independent," said President Ilves, as he accepted the credentials. "This year, we celebrate 85 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate in today's free Estonia," he added.

Along with political dialogue, the mutual relations between Estonia and the US are characterized by practical cooperation in the fields of national defense, the fight against international terrorism, and crime prevention. The United States is also an important economic partner for Estonia.

The Estonian Head of State and U.S. Ambassador also discussed the upcoming meeting between President Toomas Hendrik Bush and George W. Bush in Washington at the end of June.

Dave Phillips has been the Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Phillips Industries, as well as one of the shareholders of the Market Square Partnership. In his home state of North Carolina, the newly appointed ambassador has served in key state government positions at the request of both Republican and Democratic governors, including the positions of Secretary of Commerce, Member of the Board of the Department of Transportation and Chairman of the Economic Development Board.