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On 8 September 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the DECR, met with H.T. Simmu Tiik, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the Russian Federation. They were joined in the meeting by Very Rev. Sergiy Zvonarev, DECR secretary for far abroad countries; and Estonian Counsellor for Cultural Affairs Helene Tedre.

Metropolitan Hilarion greeted Ambassador Tiik, congratulated him on the recent presidential election in Estonia, and told the guests about the work of the Department for External Church Relations. He emphasized that the Russian Orthodox Church paid great attention to contacts with the Baltic countries, including Estonia, which occupies an important place. Ambassador Tiik noted good prospects of the development of good-neighbourly relations between Russian and Estonia and deep cultural ties between people of the two countries.

The DECR chairman spoke about the situation of the Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), focusing on the matter of church property in the country. Ambassador Tiik expressed hope for progressive settlement of the problem.

Plans of cultural cooperation and exchange were also discussed.