[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[March 29, 1991]
[Page 319]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 319]]


Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Popadiuk on President Bush's Meeting 
With President Arnold Ruutel of Estonia
March 29, 1991

    President Bush met this morning in the Oval Office with Arnold 
Ruutel, President of Estonia. President Bush began the meeting by 
reiterating the unequivocal support of the U.S. for Estonia's right to 
self-determination. He expressed his outrage over the use of force in 
Vilnius and Riga in January, and he emphasized his conviction that the 
only solution to this situation was good-faith negotiations between the 
Baltic States and Moscow. He assured President Ruutel that he had 
personally made this point to President Gorbachev on many occasions. 
President Bush took note that negotiations had begun between Estonia and 
Moscow, and he discussed with President Ruutel the results to date.

                    Note: The statement referred to President Mikhail 
                        Gorbachev of the Soviet Union.