February 4, 2000

U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson Remarks
at the Oil Shale Cooperation Agreement
Signing Ceremony
Tallinn, Estonia
Friday, February 4, 2000

Thank you and good afternoon.

I am so pleased to be in Tallinn. I have heard so much about the charm and beauty of Tallinn and the warm hospitality of the Estonian people. I have not been disappointed. Thank you for your hospitality.

I am especially pleased to be with you, Professor Engelbrecht, in this marvelous building, the home of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. It is fitting that we sign this Agreement for Cooperation on Oil Shale Research and Utilization where so much research on oil shale has taken place over the years. We recognize that oil shale is an important part of your history and your economy and will work closely with you to protect it.

The Department of Energy and the Estonian government have been working on this Agreement for some time and I am proud that Minister P„rnoja and I are signing the Agreement to formally begin our cooperation today.

This is an important Agreement, one that will bring benefits to both of our great countries. It is good for the economy, good for security and good for the environment.

The Agreement will allow for scientific exchanges to combine the expertise of both countries to perform research and development necessary to improve the marketability and reduce the environmental impact of mining and processing of oil shale.

We believe that the environmental benefits that will derive from our work together could be significant. I am proud to be standing with you as we take yet another step which demonstrates both our governments' commitment to a cleaner environment.

Thank you.